'90s legends return from the wilderness
During the mid ‘90s, it seemed that Jay Kay and his funk and acid jazz-minded combo could do no wrong. Back then, they had acclaim and commercial success in abundance and were regarded as peers of fellow countrymen Oasis and Blur. However, since the death of the so-called “Cool Britannia” phenomenon, the years haven’t been kind to the large hat lover. In fact “cool” would probably be the last word you’d use to describe Jamiroquai nowadays, as they drift further into Alan Partridge-esque territory.
Eighth album Automaton sees Kay and Co. launch a comeback, but it all feels a little half-cocked. Granted, the 12-track opus is impeccably performed and produced, but the band are (to borrow a phrase from one of their album titles) travelling without moving. The likes of ‘Nights Out In The Jungle’ and ‘Vitamin’ are aimless and every song is a mid-tempo, unremarkable funk jam session. The title-track does save their first album in seven years from being a total disaster. An enjoyable, vocoder-based effort that sounds like a video game soundtrack sprinkled with a little bit of krautrock, it suggests that maybe we shouldn’t count Kay out just yet.
Few artists – people, even – can bring out high levels of irritation and revulsion in their fellow human beings as consistently as Jason Kay. That he has managed to build a hugely successful career with such an obvious lack of charm and humility, only makes him harder to stomach.
Read More With a new album out now, Jamiroquai will play live at the Dublin Point
Read More A series of compilations handpicked by artists such as Kid Loco and Groove Armada, the Late Night Tales collections share the same essential idea as the Back To Mine series, giving artists the opportunity to put together a collection of their favourite tunes “worth staying up for”.
Read More John Walshe talks to Jamiroquai mainman, Jay Kay, about the funk soul brother’s latest album, A Funk Odyssey, his testy relationship with British tabloids and why President George W. Bush is a “bad fucker”
Read More There's no point in beating around the bush here: Jay Kay has to be one of the most loathed men in pop. Put it down to a perceived smugness, that spritzer-eating grin, a penchant for posh autos, a celebrity girlfriend - anything but the music.
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