NIKKA Costa's unfussy 2001 debut, Everybody Got Their Something, didn't exactly set the world on fire, but it should have burned a whole lot brighter than it did.

This, the long-time-coming sequel, should do better as she has honed her infectious blend of funk, rock, pop, soul and jazz even tighter.

Costa has no trouble pulling the spirits of Sly Stone, Prince, Stevie Wonder, Tina Turner and even Lenny Kravitz out of the bag in order to advance her tightly written songs of love, sex and empowerment.

She slinks, slides and swoops over the top of the tunes and while she doesn't have the strongest voice on the block she more than makes up for its shortcomings with enthusiasm.

The cover of Ike & Tina's Funkier Than a Mosquito's Tweeter more than acknowledges the influence, Costa has a goddamn ball with it.

Til I Get You alphabetises a list of lovers, the title track sounds like a rock tune that took a turn down Funk Alley and I Gotta Know shows she can handle her chops at a more measured pace as well - Nick Churchill