DELAYED longer than a Sting climax, Pharrell's lonesome debut turns out to be more than worth the wait. Split evenly between hip hop and R&B, he flits 'twixt styles like a butterfly on tiptoes, spreading magic in all that he weaves.

The hits Can I Have It Like That (with Gwen Stefani) and Angel are in good company alongside cuts featuring Snoop Dogg, Kanye West and a somewhat out of place Jamie Cullum.

Some will take issue with the way Pharrell has apparently recycled riffs and grooves from the likes of Prince, Wu-Tang and Grandmaster Flash, but like Kanye West, it's what he does to the familiar that takes it to the next level.

He removes music out of its pigeon holes and plonks right in the middle of the mainstream. Cute.