WanderlustWanderlust [Virgin]

You remember Kelis? ‘Course you do, the I Hate You So Much Right Now girl who sang with Moby on ‘Honey’ and with Ol’ Dirty Bastard on ‘Baby I Got Your Money’. Well, she’s back, welcome to Wanderlust.

First the good news. While a lot of diva-driven R‘n’B can be over-produced and sanitised, from the first track, ‘Young, Fresh And New’ a clunky number that is reminiscent of Prince’s ‘Sign Of The Times’, it’s clear that Kelis is still playing the game by her own rules. Songs like ‘Flashback’ prove she hasn’t lost her ear for melody, and its effervescent chorus – “Ooh ya make my body go/Yeah! Yeah!’ – remind us that she’s still only 22. It’s refreshing to hear somebody singing about the joys of falling in love, since most hip-hop ladies appear to believe that we guys are a total waste of space. Thanks, sister.

On ‘Popular Thug’ she’s joined by Kaleidoscope’s the Neptunes, although this time Kelis has written all the songs herself and made a pretty fine job of it, although if someone could tell me what “a chocolate tie” is I’d be grateful.

Other guests on the album include No Doubt on ‘Perfect Day’, and Korn bassist Fieldy on ‘Easy Come Easy Go’. And if Basement Jaxx weren’t involved in ‘Little Suzie’, well, it sure sounds like they were.

Elsewhere, ‘Shooting Stars’ has a delightful Stevie Wonder quality about it, and ‘Digital Love’ is a possible candidate for single release.

Wanderlust is altogether calmer and more composed than Kaleidoscope, though Kelis’ trademark sassiness is evident in her lyrics. However, those who yearn for a reprise of the passionate anger that fueled ‘Out There’ will have to wait until the hidden tracks at the end, when ‘I Don’t Care Anymore’ closes proceedings with a finely-crafted piece of venom.

While it’s probably true that Kelis Rogers won’t be battling it out with Beyoncé Knowles or even Britney Spears for a No 1 spot on the singles chart it’s also true that her music has a substance and resonance that sugar-pop hip-hop acts simply don’t posess. This is for real, and good luck to her.