Hip-hop

This week's hip-hop CDs reviewed

SA-RA CREATIVE PARTNERS 

Nuclear Evolution: The Age of Love Ubiquity ****

Sa-Ra Creative Partners have made their rep as swashbuckling future- soul producers working with the likes of John Legend, Jill Scott, Dr Dre, Erykah Badu and Kanye West. A previous album was nixed by label problems (some of the out- takes did make their way onto bootlegs), so this is the first proper opportunity to check out the trio. Few will be disappointed, because Nuclear Evolution fairly sizzles with grandstanding soul, jazz, funk, pop and hip-hop. Sa-Ra grooves have a slinky, sexy bounce, often with a bittersweet nocturnal vibe. Dirty Beauty is the pick of the bunch, with Erykah Badu laying down some psychedelic oohs and aahs over a sticky, hazy beat. But there are equally fine pickings on every track here. Nuclear Evolution is a wonderful trip to the far side. www.sa-ra.net

Download tracks: Dirty Beauty, Love Czars, White Cloud