The South London network of loosey-goosey soulful jam creators is (finally) gathering increasing critical attention. Henry Wu‘s Yussef Kamaal Trio stole the headlines at a recent Jazz Refreshed event on South Bank, Tenderlonious and his Ruby Rushton compadres continue to rouse audiences, and now Reginald Omas Mamode IV is back with an extended EP.

“Let those drums bang out” is the opening command on “Can You Dig It”, the stand out number from We Are The Universe. Coated in the funky, contagious aura as has become customary with the songster, it’s the equivalent of an aural hug. And how so? Reggie finds comfort in warm 70s sounds, rhodes keys, live percussion and drum machines, all fed through an old 1983 analog mixer. Sans-computer, no quantizing. Call it freedom funk if you will.

It arrives on 20th November on 12″/digital via Five Easy Pieces.

Mamode undertakes four live dates around the EP’s release: