The West African wonder, Akon's dulcet vocals seem to have punctuated every hit single from Eminem and Michael Jackson to anyone coughing up a bit of phlegm. There was even a well-oiled rumour doing the rounds that he'd feature on Guns N Roses' 'Chinese Democracy'. The midas-tongued one has found time to fit in a solo album in between setting up his own record label and the myriad of guest appearances he gets through.

'Freedom' is exactly what you would expect: an unswerving commitment to the formula that has made the son of a famed percussionist a pop icon. There are the usual clutch of dancefloor-fillers and Akon's talent for engineering an infectious hook remains undiminished, but the impression of 30-second guest features being stretched to four minutes lingers like a bad odour. The raucous 'I'm So Paid' featuring the equally hard working Lil' Wayne is an exception.

The 'Konvict' supremo comes into his own on the slower, introspective songs, where he really makes that rich, sonorous voice count. The melodramatic title track, which focuses on the young Akon's transition to life in the 'States from his native Senegal, or the Wyclef-Jean inspired 'Beautiful', are an effortless showcase.

A major gripe then is the inexplicably over-produced vocals that distort passable songs into a talking SMS ear trap. Why he would want to put his sublime voice through an electronic grinder is a mystery. A case of pop sensibilities working against the artist, perhaps?

'Freedom' is an album of hits and misses, of retreads and burning rubber. Akon, as reflected on the cover, is in an entrepreneurial frame of mind, but as he proves here, good money isn't synonymous with good music. This is just another trip to the bank.