AFTER going AWOL for five long years, New York’s finest are back on the block – and fighting fit.

The sharp-suited band, whose soul and funk-infused street-smart rock provided a Manhattan-flavoured soundtrack for the mid-90s, have been out of sight for too long.

Now, after fighting their way through an acrimonious dispute with their sacked manager, they are back on tour and armed with a ferociously good new album “It feels great to be back,” says Huey Morgan – talking to The Guide before going on stage earlier this week. “It’s like I’m a kid again – and being on tour is like being on a school trip.”

The band’s biggest hits, such as Scooby Snacks and Fun Lovin’ Criminal, still sound fresh now, a decade and a half since we first heard them It is, Morgan insists, a New York thing. “They still sound ‘in the moment’,” he says. “It’s that mix of blues, jazz, funk, soul and hip-hop. The mindset of a New Yorker is to go to new places and explore something different – artistically and musically. And because we’ve been trying different styles, our music has elements other bands don’t have.

“It’s nurture not nature; as New Yorkers we were nurtured to have an eclectic source of music to draw from.

“The reason we didn’t have an album out for five years is because we’ve been through some serious legal stuff. But out of adversity comes strength, and we are the people’s champ.”

“We don’t live in an ivory tower; we are blue-collar dudes, making music for the people.”

And, still, no one else sounds anything like them. “We were once described as the Tom Waits of rock, which is cool,” he says.

So have Huey and bandmates Fast and Frank been scarred by their recent travails? “We’ll, it has made us more wise to the hustles of the record industry,” he confides. “Which is why we are now doing it ourselves.

He is talking about new album Classic Fantastic, which was released this month on the band’s own Kilohertz Records label, and which features collaborations with Roots Manuva and Dennis Pennis-star Paul Kaye.

“We are also wise to the fact that people don’t buy music any more. We record great records and take care making them sound good, but you can’t fight the tsunami of downloading. You have to play live.”

“We have to focus on our strengths – and that’s playing music for people.

“There’s this thing called ‘noetics’,” he elaborates. “It says if everybody thinks the same good thoughts, good things will happen. Likewise negative thoughts – it’s not rocket science. And we all want the same thing, to be a Fun Lovin’ Criminal.

So what does it mean to be a Fun Lovin’ Criminal? And how do we join?

“Well, you can’t take things too seriously,” he explains. “Life’s short and you’ve got to roll with it. Live in the moment, be as spontaneous as you can – and try not to hurt anyone as you go.”

While still coming across as the archetypal New Yorker, it comes as a surprise to hear that Huey actually spends most of his time in London – living in St John’s Hill with his British wife Rebecca.

But, then again, FLC were always far more successful here than in the US – just as The Killers and Kings of Leon have proved a bigger ticket on this side of the pond.

“I’m a newly-married dude and I’m having a lot of fun,” he grins. “There’s a lot of rain and stuff, but it’s nice!”

“I’ve been coming here for 14 years, anyway, so I have lots of good friends.

“But I’m a nomad, and it’s nice not being tethered to one place. And remember, you can take the kid outta New York – but can’t take New York outta the kid.”

Tomorrow Huey and the boys play Oxford’s O2 Academy – and he requires our company.

“Jimmy Page said you haven’t lived until you’ve seen Fun Lovin’ Criminals live!”

A legendary ladies’ man, has being a “newly married dude” put paid to his rock’n’roll antics on tour?

“Of course,” he insists, but declines to regale fans with details of his bachelor life on the road. “I’m too much of a gentleman to tell, bro’.”