On "Traveling Without Moving," Kay has condensed the wide-eyed politics, tightened up the band's nervous musical energy and generally matured with grace. He upholds the lustrous funk tradition of the 1970s, one embodied by the sweat-drenched, rhythm-driven work of artists like Earth, Wind & Fire and Roy Ayers. The new album is pumped up with elaborate and catchy tunes that incorporate elements of straight soul, modern funk and electro, and lyrics that deal with more intricate subjects than previous efforts.

Kay keeps the party alive with unbridled enthusiasm, whether exploring lust in"Alright," exotic soundscapes in "Didjital Vibrations" or the chaos of modern life in "Virtual Insanity." In "Drifting Along" he even takes a stab at reggae rhythms and phrasing; as he slinks his way through lines like, "I'm feeling the pressure all around me crumble / But I won't be pulled down this time," his clear and sweet voice floats deliciously over the warm tones of the music.

The current Jamiroquai line-up — Toby Smith on keyboards, Stuart Zender on bass, Derrick McKenzie on drums, Simon Katz on guitar and Willis on Digeridoo — turns in impeccable performances. "Traveling Without Moving" does sound retro at times, especially when the horns and wah-wah guitar kick in on "You Are My Love," but nobody said disco bands were meant to innovate. For easy-to-digest, happy-go-lucky fun, it rarely gets better than this.

— Aidin Viziri

Aidin Vaziri is a freelance writer whose work appears in the San Francisco Chronicle, Ray Gun and Detour.