Imagine an oblong, intergalactic funk-fueled roller rink, tricked out with shiny chrome fixtures, a spinning globe, and a skilled DJ layering eras of funk and pop and soul over trippy, acid-infused beats. In the hands of the unskilled it would be a scattered mess, but for Jamiroquai, it’s their mastered signature style.  For over 20 years, the British acid jazz/R&B collective has earned acclaim, awards and became a forerunner in the evolving genre.

There have only been a few constants in the repertoire of Jamiroquai; its enigmatic front man, Jay Kay, and the willingness of the band, in past and present forms, to explore and experiment with a cornucopia of influences, established or not. Concepts ranging from abstract to tangible regale the fans and sustain their devotion throughout, as evidenced in the fervor surrounding their just-released eighth studio CD, Automaton.

The twelve tracks, though varied in approach, all revolve around the same trains of thought: sifting through the digitized, artificial boundaries of technology for glimpses of honesty and human touch. Precision-heavy beats…..(click here for the full-length review at soultracks.com)