One of the ladies from the top table of American R’n’B offers the odd surprise on her fourth LP. Whether you call it ‘fresh’ or just ‘retro’, is it enough?

What’s left for Jill Scott after four million album sales and three Grammy awards? Well, how about a fourth studio album of schmoove grooves, warm basslines and easy melodies allied to her creamy, mahogany vocals?

But it’s not all predictable neo-soul. On a defiantly retro tip, Shame, featuring Eve, some record deck slippage and a snappy drum rundown, is a shot of vintage soul-rap from the early ‘90s, while beatboxing from Doug E. Fresh and some twee pool hall piano backs her sweet emoting on All Cried Out.

But the limited imagination and self-indulgence on display derails this before you’re halfway through the 15 songs, and tracks like the slovenly So Gone sap the spirit.

Highlights though include the peppy, stripped Quick and Womanifesto’s assertive spit.

3 stars