Originally issued as an internet-only release, the nine tracks of this album (each of their names beginning with an X) find Prince focusing on instrumental compositions, with his distinctive voice entirely absent. The songs play with fusion jazz from a variety of angles, and though funk is a common inclusion, the emulation of older jazz styles (e.g., bop and cool jazz) comes across on point while blending with the more modern twists. Things are less frenzied than in Prince’s instrumental jazz side-project of Madhouse, leaning more into mellow moods, though some energetic flourishes do crop up semi-regularly, and the inclusion of violin makes for some striking moments. Something more for Prince completionists than casual fans, but only because of its divergence from his usual form, not due to any fault in the material itself.
Scrambled Brains 