Jamiroquai readies 'Funk Odyssey'

NEW YORK (Billboard) - English neo-funk ensemble Jamiroquai is set to release its fifth album, "A Funk Odyssey," Sept. 11 via Epic. The set will be preceded on Aug. 13 by first single "Little L," as well as the group's first U.K. performance in two years, headlining the Knebworth festival two days earlier. "A Funk Odyssey" was produced by Jamiroquai frontman Jay Kay along with engineer Rick Pope, and promises to hit many of the group's familiar touchstones, including hyper-disco dance tunes and Stevie Wonder-inspired funk as well as some more laid-back fare. Song titles among the album's 10 tracks include "Feels So Good," "Corner of the Earth" and "Picture of My Life." "A Funk Odyssey" is the follow-up to 1999's "Synkronized," which peaked at No. 28 on the Billboard 200 and has sold 310,000 copies in the U.S.