A Funk Odyssey

With the title of their fifth album, Jamiroquoi appear to be promising momentous things. Odyssey: "Any long adventurous journey" according to my Collins pocket English Dictionary. Maybe a tad too rich a claim for 10 songs over 48 minutes?

That’s not to say that Jay Kay & Co have failed to deliver on this album. The distinctive Jamiroquoi sound is as upbeat and enticing as ever. Whilst not exactly mining any original seams themselves, the bands ability to pilfer the sexiest elements of funk, jazz, soul and disco is spot on.

Feels so good’s funk guitar drips with positivity – "I’m so happy where I am" – while the throbbing bass-line takes you on a ride "to other atmospheres". Main vein hijacks ’70s disco guitar and combines it with a chorus driven by soulful backing vocals – a sure-fire triumph in the eyes of anyone still harking after Saturday Night Fever.

And it’s not all impossibly energetic floor fillers either. Corner of the earth sweeps in, all Indian inspired strings and percussion, before morphing into a charming, leisurely meditation – "Nature’s got me high and it’s so beautiful". On Picture of my life, the Spanish guitar and chorus of aaahs close the album on a serene note.

Produced by Jay Kay himself, with in-house engineer Rick Pope, A Funk Odyssey is every bit the immaculately produced and arranged product you’d expect. And teeming with numerous potential hit-singles to boot. But whether it’s as adventurous as the title suggests is open to debate.