''Automaton'' is the eighth studio album by English funk band

Jamiroquai Jamiroquai () are an English funk and acid jazz band from London. Formed in 1992, they are fronted by vocalist Jay Kay, and were prominent in the London-based funk and acid jazz movement of the 1990s. They built on their acid jazz sound in th ...

, released on 31 March 2017 through

Virgin EMI Virgin EMI Records was a British record label owned by the Universal Music Group that was formed in 2013. In June 2020, the label was rebranded as EMI Records, and operates Virgin Records as an imprint of the new EMI Records. History Virgin ...

. It is the band's first album in seven years, following ''

Rock Dust Light Star ''Rock Dust Light Star'' is the seventh studio album released by the English band Jamiroquai. The album was released on 1 November 2010 in the United Kingdom by Universal Music/Mercury Records and on 24 April 2012 in the United States by Executiv ...

'' (2010). It was a number-one album in Italy and peaked at number 2 in Switzerland, number 3 in France, and number 4 in the UK.

Background

Jay Kay Jay Kay (born Jason Luís Cheetham; 30 December 1969) is an English singer and songwriter. He is best known as the co-founder and lead vocalist of the acid jazz and funk band Jamiroquai, which was formed in 1992. Early life Jay Kay was bo ...

described the inspiration for ''Automaton'': "in recognition of the rise of artificial intelligence and technology in our world today and how we as humans are beginning to forget the more pleasant, simple and eloquent things in life and in our environment including our relationship with one another as human beings".

Reception

Upon release the album received generally positive reviews. At

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, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from music critics, the album received an average score of 71, which indicates "generally favorable reviews", based on 16 reviews. In his review for

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databa ...

, Matt Collar concluded that "There are few bands who play classic disco-funk with as much genuine love for the genre and care in the productions as Kay and Jamiroquai. Ultimately, it's that sense of love and good vibes that drives much of Automaton." Although not released as a single, "Shake it On" broke into the Official French Singles Chart, peaking at number 154.

Promotion

The album had its worldwide radio premiere on 26 January 2017 at 20:00

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on BBC Radio 2's

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show, which played its first single, "

Automaton An automaton (; plural: automata or automatons) is a relatively self-operating machine, or control mechanism designed to automatically follow a sequence of operations, or respond to predetermined instructions.Automaton – Definition and More ...

Singles

On 27 January 2017, Jamiroquai released online a video version of the title track as the album's lead single. On 10 February 2017, Jamiroquai released an audio version of the track "Cloud 9", and on 22 February 2017 released online the video version featuring actress Monica Cruz. On 29 June 2017, the band released "Superfresh" as the third official single from the album. An accompanying music video was produced without active participation from front man Jay Kay, whose back injury most likely left him unable to attend the filming. As a result, cut scenes from the "Automaton" video were interspersed throughout it. In December 2017 a fourth single, "Summer Girl", was released. It was followed by "Nights Out in the Jungle" in January 2018.

Tour

On 17 January 2017, Jamiroquai announced a 10-date festival tour of Asia and Europe due to start on 25 May 2017 in

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, Japan, and to end on 5 August 2017 in

Zambujeira do Mar Zambujeira do Mar is a former civil parish in the municipality of Odemira, Alentejo region, Portugal. In 2013, the parish merged into the parish São Teotónio. Odemira Municipality in the Portuguese. It has a population of 911 inhabitants, dispers ...

, Portugal; the tour also includes shows in South Korea, Greece, the Netherlands, Italy, Finland, France, Switzerland and Czech Republic. On 1 February 2017, Jamiroquai announced a new show: on 9 August 2017 at

Smukfest Smukfest (also known as the Skanderborg Festival) is an annual music festival, held during the second weekend of August in Denmark. Its location, in a beech forest in the vicinity of Skanderborg, has given rise to the slogan "Denmarks' Most Beau ...

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, Denmark. On 3 February 2017, Jamiroquai announced two new shows, in France and the UK: on 28 March 2017 at the

Salle Pleyel The Salle Pleyel (, meaning "Pleyel Hall") is a concert hall in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, France, designed by acoustician Gustave Lyon together with architect Jacques Marcel Auburtin, who died in 1926, and the work was completed in 1927 by ...

, Paris and on 31 March 2017 at

the Roundhouse The Roundhouse is a performing arts and concert venue situated at the Grade II* listed former railway engine shed in Chalk Farm, London, England. The building was erected in 1846–1847 by the London & North Western Railway as a roundhous ...

, London. The two shows were sold out in less than one minute. Jamiroquai also announced they would take part on 12 August 2017 in the

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, United Kingdom.

Track listing

Personnel

Credits adapted from liner notes. *

– vocals * Matt Johnson – keyboards, engineering, programming * Paul Turner – bass guitar * Rob Harris – guitar * Derrick McKenzie – drums * Sola Akingbola – percussion * Joshua Blair – engineering * John Prestage – engineering assistance * Mick Guzauski – mixing * JP Chalbos – mastering

Background

Reception

Promotion

Singles

Tour

Track listing

Personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

References

Notes

External links