About 25 years after her debut effort, Madonna has continued to produce pop songs that entered uncharted territory each time showcasing a different side of her personality. She has producers and collaborators joining her on this work and they include the likes of Pharrell, Timbaland, and Justin Timberlake who have given their own touch to make Madonna’s music sound like one of their own compositions, but still retaining the Madonna stamp. Lyrically some of the songs have a double meaning if you really listen carefully. Funnily enough its enjoyable.

4 Minutes is a sexy, hot groove featuring Timberlake and Timbaland, infectious and sure to get stuck in your head for some time. It only goes to prove that the ageing queen of pop still manages to gel well with the younger audience. Give it 2 Me is another catchy bouncy treat and surely replayable. Heartbeat is up-tempo just like the rest of the pieces here and adds to the delight of the other 11 tracks here. Madonna has used large amounts of handclaps, violins, and funky guitar riffs, and a lot of electronic stuff too, but still manages to stay in the forefront, with the background score working well for her. Dance 2 Nite is another floor burner with a great groove. Ballads something which Madonna once had in plenty on each of her 10 albums, doesn’t find a place on this her 11^th album. However you could link the piano based Devil wouldn’t Recognize You the closest thing the album has to a ballad.

Lyrically, Madonna focuses on trivial matters about relationships, sex and dancing. These topics have always been the basis for her songs and so it’s nothing new for her. The opening track Candy Shop is a springy piece with good vocals and naughty lyrics that goes ‘………My sugar is sweet’ and such stuff backed by a thumping drum arrangement.  Heartbeat is pure classic Madonna get-on-the-dance floor track, funky and with a great groove. Mads whispers “see my booty get down” - bitchy stuff we’d say, but that’s the 49 year old diva who just can’t seem to get enough of sex. Miles Away is more serious and talks of a strained relationship hurt by distance. On Dance 2night she takes on the world and states: You don't have to be rich and famous to be good." You have a touch of flamenco aka La Isla Bonita in Spanish Lessons with  bilingual lyrics, simple and straight forward - "Te quiero means 'I love you" ... Besame means 'kiss me' ... Callate means 'close your mouth' says Madonna.

Timberlake has taken his latest album ‘Futuresex/Lovesounds’ a bit seriously and dishes out a potent sex party for pop's most famous virgin taking her to the club and playing synthesizer electronica on the vocals and musical arrangement. But for herself Madonna sizzles on tracks like ‘Give it 2 me’, the dance friendly ‘Heartbeat’. The mid tempo ‘Devil wouldn’t recognize you showcases her voice to the best of her ability changing the tone on each line of the song. On Spanish Lesson she goes down on her vocals only to regain it all forcefully on the chorus.

Timberlake approach is firmly rooted in R&B and that is omnipotent here. The album is more about grooves rather than memorable songs though there are plenty to sing about like Candy Shop, 4 Minutes, Dance Tonight and Beats goes on (feat. Kanye West). At the very first listen Incredible reminds you of the pumpy Cherish tune backed up to heavyweight beats. Madonna tries to conjure up the spirits of her past hits on Spanish Lesson, filling in on another attempt at English and Spanish fusion ala La Isla Bonita. But it doesn’t take off even though the flamenco part seems infectious. The best ‘Hard Candy’ gets is with 4 Minutes whose support is clearly the reason this song succeeds.

It’s pure Madonna, like it or not. She has evolved as one of the best players so far and this album is just another part of her evolving as a totally polished singer. Though producers Timbaland, Danja and Timberlake are present for half of ‘Hard Candy’ besides The Neptunes, Pharrell Williams and Kanye West the album has good moments that make it a top line seller. Compared to 2005's triumphant ‘Confessions on a Dance floor’, ‘Hard Candy’ doesn’t disappoint on any counts the material girl is around and has good material to talk about. She reaffirms her position as the queen of pop bringing along a collection of dance-club anthems, repetitious hip-hop mixes laced well with R & B grooves. Madonna may have paved the way for her peers who have surpassed her in many ways, but she still leads the pack mountain high.

Rating: ****

Reviewed Verus Ferreira