Surely five years too long.

But it seems the cheeky and incredibly talented Essex 30-year-old has used his time wisely with The Pursuit an instant winner.

Cullum reminds us quickly what we loved about him last time around with a big, bold and brassy take on Cole Porter’s Just One Of Those Things to open proceedings.

At the other end of the scale, a pensive take on Rihanna’s dance hit Please Don’t Stop The Music is also among the many highlights.

And the lively Wheels wouldn’t be all that out of place on a Coldplay record — complete with whoa-oh-oh-ohs.

Elsewhere, the breathless You And Me Are Gone conjures up images of a 1930s gangster party while the oft-covered If I Ruled The World, made famous by Sir Harry Secombe, is superb.

RATING: ★★★½

IN SHORT: Novel