Creole Moon

After using several albums to explore the worlds of big band arrangements and jazz standards, Dr. John returned to New Orleans on *Creole Moon*, which features al- original compositions. The Doctor is a master synthesist, and this album succeeds in touching almost every aspect of his musical DNA. “Food For Thot” is a James Brown riff, “Litenin’” takes salsa to Louisiana and “Bruha Bembe” is based on a traditional Caribbean witch dance. Few can conjure exotic moods as well as Dr. John, but *Creole Moon* also contains some of his finest love songs, including “Georgianna,” “Now That You Got Me” and “In the Name of You,” the last of which is one of four collaborations with the legendary songwriter Doc Pomus. He and Dr. John continued writing together right up until Pomus\' death in 2001, and these posthumous compositions function as a wonderful tribute. Special credit is due the stunning rhythm section of bassist David Barard and drummer Herman Ernest III. They give the music a rhythmic ingenuity not seen since the days when Dr. John played with the Meters.

Between his various standards albums of the '90s and the heavily collaborational Anutha Zone from 1998, by the end of the millennium it'd been nearly a decade since Dr. John's last record of straight-ahead New Orleans R&B.

<p>Dr John serves up a heavy funk stew, Royksopp chill out in Norway, and Morning Star sing in the rain - plus the rest of this week's pop.</p>