I'm definitely not a long time fan of Jamiroquai, or of the genre in general. I know only the songs everyone else knows such as "Virtual Insanity", "King for a Day", "Deeper Underground" and "Cosmic Girl". Rock Dust Light Star caught my attention in a big way with it's subtle but undeniable differences compared to other Jamiroquai releases.
Rock Dust Light Star still ventures heavily on the waters of 'acid funk', although serving this delicious dish with multiple sideorders of other genres. From afro beats to reggae to plain out rock'n'roll, Rock Dust Light Star is constantly shifting focus, changing moods yet holding on to its easy accessibility. This is a record that might appeal to musicians as well as just ordinary folk looking to have a good time. Parts of the album sound like fusion jazz reminiscent of masters such as Herbie Hancock, although newer listeners might feel at home due to the subtle hints at electronica herer and there. This is a fantastic feat to accomplish.
As just about every Jamiroquai album is backed by a different line-up of musicians, its hard not to want to give credit to the chief himself for improving tremendously in his songwriting and dare I say in his singing as well. The mood fluctuations on this album are beautifully accented by Jay Kay's varying style, all the while keeping it tightly fastened to the funk side of things. All songs on Rock Dust Light Star are credited to Jay Kay, with some assistance from surrounding crew members.
My track picks from this album include:
Rock Dust Light Star
White Knuckle Ride
She's a fast Persuader
Hey Floyd
This is one of those albums though that you can listen through easily, with every song keping you entertained.
Have fun folks.
5/5
Jay Kay discussing 'Rock Dust Light Star' on the BBC morning show:
