On her sixth album, Missy Elliott has – for the most part – ended her long-running working relationship with gifted producer Timbaland. It’s difficult to be happy about the death of a partnership that has thrown up some of the most dazzlingly futuristic pop music of recent years, but it was a collaboration that had been on the wane for some time, particularly on Missy’s lacklustre 2003 album This Is Not A Test.
Timbaland is present here, but only on the first two tracks. He does a decent job of starting proceedings, particularly with the dramatic switch from low-key mimimalism to surging digital melancholy on ‘Joy’.
The album’s best moments come after this, but The Cookbook does lack the cohesion of Missy’s first three Timbo-dominated albums. This is the most playful and eclectic release of her career, but definitely not the best. Still, given the other masterstrokes in the Missy canon, this is no disgrace, and there are plenty of moments to enjoy.
The Cookbook frequently looks to the South for inspiration, particularly on single ‘Lose Control’ with its Lil' Jon-inspired evil-synth heaves, and crunk-flavoured shout-along ‘Click Clack’. Elsewhere, The Neptunes quash any suggestions that they might be past it on ‘On & On’, a thrillingly aquatic hip-hop track.
Throughout, Missy shows that her skills as both a singer and MC remain undimmed. In fact, she has rarely had a better opportunity to showcase her versatility, sounding equally at home on both tender, liquid R’n’B ballads like the self-produced ‘Remember When’ and crunchy club thumpers ‘Mommy’ and ‘Can’t Stop’.
The Cookbook is far from perfect, but it does a sterling job of arresting Missy’s career slide, and successfully re-establishes her as a force to be reckoned with.