KEANE - KEANE 'INSPIRED BY PRINCE'

KEANE 'INSPIRED BY PRINCE'

KEANE have been talking about their new material, revealing some unlikely influences.

The band's new material has been receiving positive feedback from many quarters, with singer Tom Chaplin saying their music has a more upbeat feel.

"Tim went to see Prince last year and suddenly he came back with all these songs that had these big guitar grooves and were very funky. It's great," he told the BBC.

The new album PERFECT SYMMETRY is a deliberate departure from last record UNDER THE IRON SEA, illustrating their emergence from a turbulent year in 2006.

Chaplin noted that the band – once labelled "posh lightweights" by Liam Gallagher – are now noticing plaudits from their peers.

"They're daring to admit that they like us," the frontman said jokingly. "We've had so many nice and fond words from so many camps, so we're very pleased to hear that."

PERFECT SYMMETRY is scheduled for release on October 13th.