"Automaton" is the eighth studio album by British funk and acid jazz band Jamiroquai. It was released on 31 March 2017 through Virgin EMI. The album marked the band's first record to be released since "Rock Dust Light Star" in 2010. It's also the first album without contributions from founding bassist Stuart Zender, following his departure in 1998.
"Automaton" was written by the band's frontman Jay Kay and keyboardist Matt Johnson, signaling a distinctive transition in its sonic direction. The record became renowned for incorporating a blend of funk, RnB, soul, synth-pop, and electronic music—traversing further from the band's acid-jazz roots into a more modern sound.
The album was led by the title track as its first single, followed by "Cloud 9". "Automaton" received a generally positive response from music critics, often praising its fresh sound and creativity whilst maintaining the signature essence of Jamiroquai's style.
Debuted at number 4 on the UK Albums Chart and number 2 on the Billboard Dance/Electronic Albums chart, it also managed to chart within the top ten in several other countries, demonstrating its global appeal.
