The last time Michael Kiwanuka released an album, it scooped the Mercury Prize. Five years on from his self-titled third, the Ugandan Londoner is not back with a jazz-hands have-you-missed-me bang but a whisper, as is his modest way. But still waters run deep, as they say, and Small Changes is a quietly inspirational follow-up drawing on the old-school soul and R&B roots which have informed most of his work to date.

Kiwanuka collaborates again with producers Danger Mouse and London hotshot Inflo, both of whom are entirely plugged into those mellow retro-soul vibes. Legendary R&B producer Jimmy Jam and noted session bassist Pino Palladino also drop by to jam, gently. All is understated on Small Changes. Nevertheless, the title track is sumptuous, infused with the warming touch of delicate electric piano chords. Its soothing sentiment and sound are an act of reassurance, topped with a burnished guitar solo. If anything, ‘One And Only’ is even more stripped back, comprising languid guitar and percussion alongside Kiwanuka’s peaceful vocals. He testifies with such a subtle ache on ‘Rebel Soul’ that it’s easy to miss the depth of expression.

He revisits his teenage years on the psych-soul nostalgia of recent single(s) ‘Lowdown Part 1’ and ‘Lowdown Part 2’ then rather underplays a strong hand on the repetitive reverie ‘Follow Your Dreams’. Meanwhile, ‘Live For Your Love’ is a joy, its soothing symphonic soul with one foot in the conscious rhythm’n’blues of the late 60s/early 70s, and the other in Soul II Soul’s late 80s metropolitan cool. Penultimate track ‘The Rest Of Me’ also evokes an 80s slow-jam vibe, with the light caress of vocals and reverb guitar. Small Changes may prove too low-key for some but as it fades out on the last-dance sway of ‘Four Long Years’, its feelgood elixir lingers.

Small Changes is released by Polydor on Friday 15 November; Michael Kiwanuka will tour the UK next spring; main picture: Marco Grey.