Maximo Park are due to tour the UK and Europe in April and May

Rock band Maximo Park are poised to release their second album, Our Earthly Pleasures.

The Newcastle five-piece, who have been together since 2003, enjoyed commercial and critical success with their debut album A Certain Trigger.

The album spawned five hit singles and made the shortlist of the Mercury Music Prize in 2005. The band also made a splash with their live act at Glastonbury and headlining the NME tour.

Lead singer Paul Smith dispels the old myth about making a second album - and reveals all about his trademark 'little red book'.

Was Our Earthly Pleasures the 'difficult second album'?

Not really. We never stopped writing songs, so there was no writers' block. We don't take much notice of anybody outside of ourselves when we're making the record. It would be dangerous to think what we should do from a commercial level. We reverted to our natural state and had a safe pair of hands - producer Gil Norton - looking after us.

It's kind of a daft, frivolous industry thing - a fantasy world that I take with a pinch of salt. Maximo Park's Paul Smith (centre) on awards ceremonies

Do you feel any pressure as the album's release draws near?

As long as you feel proud of the album, it's easy to go out and talk about it. It's impossible to control what people will think of it - it'll have a life of its own. I'd like to think that we're quite unique.

Do you think the new chart rules are going to play to your advantage?

I haven't got a clue! I don't know how it works and I don't know who buys our records. But it's new music, made by young people, and a lot of our fanbase will respond and get hold of it somehow.

Are you hoping you will figure at the next Brit Awards?

It's kind of a daft, frivolous industry thing - a fantasy world that I take with a pinch of salt. I enjoyed Amy Winehouse's performance at this year's ceremony, which was something interesting in a sea of egos.

Awards were never part of our intention and don't drive us to make music. Our first album didn't really add up to Mercury nomination material, but we were happy as it exposed us to new people.

Are there any current acts that have caught your attention?

I'm swamped by my own brain when it comes to music. US band The Hold Steady seem totally at odds with fashion and write good songs. I'm enjoying Hell Hath No Fury by Clipse as well.

Can you tell me about your 'little red book' which you often take onstage?

As well as being a prop and something that indicates the live show is something out of the ordinary, it's a security blanket. It has lyrics, photos and personal thoughts inside it which makes it real - when I'm performing it reminds me the music is emotional and rooted in something. To have a book on stage in rock and roll is illegal. People say, 'what's he doing'?

Do you have to carry it with you at all times now?

I'm not such a softie. But on the bus, or in my bunk on tour, I'll look over it to see what I've written - it's a working manual. Get yourself a red book!

Our Earthly Pleasures by Maximo Park is released on 2 April.