UK 5-piece outfit Mamas Gun releases 6th studio album DIG!, with frontman Andy Platts’ golden falsetto leading listeners across 11 lovingly crafted songs of lush soul, jazz and funk soundscapes recorded straight to analogue tape and celebrating the best of the past and present.

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There’s real alchemy at work on DIG!, the 6th studio album by UK 5-piece band Mamas Gun – a rare creative brotherhood of passionate musicians with a knack for making music that sounds and feels timeless. Andy Platts – the songwriting frontman with the golden falsetto; Drummer Chris Boot – the band’s backbone, supplying the heaviest grooves with a jazz player’s lightness of touch; Bass player Cameron Dawson, flowing and fearlessly echoing the spirit of James Jamerson but with a melodic sound uniquely his own; Terry Lewis, a guitarist whose taste, feel and vocabulary bring a crucial warm old school authenticity, and last but by no means least; Dave Oliver, a dynamic keys player whose profound command of the piano, wurlitzer and hammond organ joins the dots from jazz to gospel to soul with ease.

And what a sound this is – truly authentic, organic and deeply soulful – all recorded by engineer/studio owner Neil Innes straight to 16 track analogue tape at All Things Analogue Studios in Leeds, UK. The mission statement: to capture the sound of 5 individual musicians at the very top of their game, coming together to bring 11 lovingly crafted songs to life in a way that celebrates the best of the past and the present. The result is hugely successful, yielding intimate performances that put you in room with the band whilst the magic unfolds.

The themes covered in DIG! are universal. Those of love, family, hope, redemption, and like all great soul music, finding uplift in times of downturn. Whilst much of the album’s arrangements and production credits are largely spread across the group, at the centre of the songwriting is Andy Platts, but whose collaboration with the other band members and others, such as longtime writing-partner Conner Reeves adds further musical variety and lyrical interest.

The album’s first single “Food For The Flames” was a co-write with guitarist Terry Lewis, road tested on the bands last tour and an unreleased favourite with fans. “The Proof” is an upbeat Stevie Wonder reminiscent gospel funk cut with a stand out bass guitar performance from Cameron Dawson. Lyrically arising from a late night conversation Andy Platts had about God, religion and the cosmos, he advises “Listen carefully, I’m not saying what you might think I am”.

“Wings”, another high point on this album full of high points, shows another side of the band’s musical dexterity drawing on their shared love of jazz, present in the Lou Donaldson Alligator Boogaloo-style acoustic piano, the Blue Note whispers of the ride cymbal and the Grant Green style flashes of guitar.Then there is the atmospheric street corner soul of “Living On Mercy“, lyrically a song that ultimately seeks redemption, with hypnotic wurlitzer by Dave Oliver. “Phantom Love” takes the album off-piste to a darker, more introspective place. With open space playing such a key role in this album’s sound, the reverb tails and percussion textures (courtesy of Paul Elliott) play as much a part in the sonic palette as the band and voices.

“Joy”, written by Andy Platts and Conner Reeves, is pure runaway joy: precious, feel good, firmly life affirming vibes jumping out of the speakers. “First Time In A Long Time” is a gorgeous mid tempo-ballad built on a classic boom-bap style drum break, while “Had Me At Goodbye” channels the classic Philly soul sound in the vein of The Stylistics and The Delfonics, again demonstrating the group’s brilliant arrangement and blend of vocal harmonies, one of their secret weapons.”

In turbulent times, Mamas Gun’s music certainly connects and is a welcome balm for the soul. Uplifting, questing, nourishing and golden, DIG! is a pure delight to experience and without a doubt their most accomplished album to date.