Jamiroquai Automaton

U.K. funk merchants Jamiroquai are best known in the U.S. for ’90s electro space cakes “Virtual Insanity” and “Cosmic Girl,” and the No. 1 dance hit “Space Cowboy.” Since then, though, the troupe has continued to enjoy international success and release studio albums, including the new Automaton. Led by soulful raconteur Jay Kay, the futuristic record is a debonair amalgam of sinewy R&B (“We Can Do It”), polished synth-funk (“Cloud 9”) and glittering disco grooves (“Hot Property”).

At its best, Automaton comes off like a well-curated playlist of breezy, concise jams. Standout “Superfresh” would be a highlight of retro night at the roller rink; the soapy ’70s soft rock homage “Summer Girl” is the sound of sipping champagne on a fancy cruise; and the robo-swervin’ title track resembles the electro-rock favored by Duran Duran in the early ’80s. Automaton falters, however, when Jamiroquai gets mired in navel gazing grooves and lets its songwriting (and song lengths) meander. Both “Something About You” and “Vitamin,” for example, are sonically pristine but generally forgettable. Despite such lulls, Jamiroquai’s effervescence ultimately wins out, keeping the record firmly in camp fun(ky).