That Pharrell Williams was in the producer’s chair bodes well for the new album from the ever-languid Doggfather.
Williams has always known how to get the best out of the veteran rapper over the years (see Drop It Like It's Hot, from his back pages), and there's much on Bush to applaud in a similar vein.
What's striking is the Dogg's continuing embrace of the funk, though the low-slung, loose-limbed, slow-motion, heavyweight bass which made his recent 7 Days of Funk collaboration with Dam Funk such a joy doesn't make the cut here.
Instead, Williams has the Dogg slinking around the G-funk mothership for Peaches N Cream and So Many Pros, both full of slick, full-fat grooves and strong hooks, while the Stevie Wonder experience is writ large on California Roll.
