Handsome boy modelling school: White people

Herald rating: * * *

Only these two producers would have any show of succeeding with an album featuring diverse guests like Pharrell Williams, The Mars Volta, Linkin Park, Jamie Cullum, Mike Patton, Franz Ferdinand's Alex Kapranos and, shock horror, Jack Johnson.

Dan the Automator (Gorillaz, Dr Octagon) and Prince Paul (best known for his work with De La Soul, who also appear on this album) create clever music and beats, that are at times funky and at others just plain bliss. These beats save some diabolical collaborations - most notably, Linkin Park's Chester Bennington who puts in a gutless performance on Rock and Roll (Could Never Hip Hop Like This). And not even the Prince and Dan can save a duet between modern day jazz guy Jamie Cullum and old-timer John Oates.

White People is too patchy. An example of an odd combination that works is RZA and The Mars Volta on A Day In The Life - a cosmic, cool, jam that's not try-hard. The good tracks outweigh the bad, but only just.