Paulo Nutini believe it or not has been absent from new release territory for five years. It doesn’t feel that long, perhaps due to Pencil Full of Lead being played on a loop in every cafe across Europe since 2009.

Mainly recorded in Grouse Lodge in Moate, ‘Caustic Love’ sees Dani Castelar return as co-producer alongside Nutini. The impishly cute Scot has always had a way with lyrics and a way with delivering them.

‘Caustic Love’ is a long cool drink on a hot summer’s evening. Yes a cliché – but it is to 2014 what Finley Quaye’s ‘Maverick a Strike’ was to 1997; fresh sounds mingled with a familiarity of soul beats. Nutini has, aside from a musical prowess, the capacity to make the listener feel cool – Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding cool.

The album opens with the lead single Funk My Life Up. Nutini bridges the transition from his last crowd-pleasing album to a more authentic work here. Authentic because there is a sense of musical intent driven by the artist as supposed to the record company.

This album is full of single-worthy tracks. The ’60’s pop influenced Let Me Down Easy, Numpty and the easy listening Someone Like You all have layers of detail that only emerge on repeated listening.

Immediate favourites are the heavier sounding Cherry Blossom, Nutini’s voice at times evoking Jim Morrison. Iron Sky includes an epilogue from Chaplin’s ‘The Great Dictator’ feeling like the spine of the album which all the other music was built around. A future anthem.

If there were elements to ‘Caustic Love’ to criticise it would be the blatant wearing of influences on its sleeve. For example Lee Dorsey’s Working in the Coal Mine can be heard on Numpty. There is a slight over indulgence on some of the tracks namely Diana and Looking for Something. But these are minor and are details that can very quickly be forgiven.

‘Caustic Love’ has been worth the wait as we see the Scotsman deliver a truly grown up sound. Like a maturing wine this album is better decanted and aired frequently.