When we last caught up with Ashby trio The Young Knives, the band was taking a break following the release of its second album, Superabundance, in 2008, writes Gemma Peplow.

A year has passed since that conversation with singer Henry Dartnall and, to the untrained eye, it might appear that the band has spent another 12 months resting on its laurels.

But no, after babies and weddings last summer, the band members have been writing. And writing and writing.

They now have about 40 songs to choose from for the album and the shortlist is almost finalised.

"It's a funny thing, writing music," says Henry. "You can write lots and lots of songs but the worst thing you can do is take the first 10 songs you write and put them on your next record.

"We're not the kind of band that wants to put the same thing out all the time.

"Well, there's always an element of that, but I think the post-punk thing is a bit dead in the water… well, not completely, but you've always got to come up with something fresh.

"So there's been lots of racking our brains and thinking 'that is total crap' and starting again.

"We've got a good choice, so maybe we'll have the next album's worth here as well."

The trio has chosen to play four intimate gigs to whet fans' appetite before they start touring again properly to promote the third album.

"It will be good to get back out on the road, if only for a few days," Henry says.

"We're not going to go out and do a whole set of new songs and bore people, but we might try a few new tracks.

"I think it's really good, some of the new stuff. This will just be a few days to blow the cobwebs away, to remind us what it's like playing live.

"We picked cities we like to go to and intimate venues. I'm sure we'll do something bigger towards the end of the year when things pick up for the third album, but this will be for fun."

The final show will be in Leicester on Saturday.

"Yeah, we always like to do gigs near to home, so my mum can come along and stick cotton wool buds in her ears."

Info

The Young Knives play at the Music Cafe, in Braunstone Gate, on Saturday.

www.shadowpromotions-gigs.co.uk