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The Kaiser Chiefs were happy to lie low for a year while they wrote their second album

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We're in jail with the Kaiser Chiefs. 'It's quite cosy in here, isn't it?' says vocalist Ricky Wilson, peering around the cell.

Back in the 1960s, Mick Jagger was locked up here for possession of cannabis. This historic London jailhouse has been converted into a novelty hotel bar and these occupants are guilty of disturbing the peace after penning indie rock anthems including I Predict A Riot and naming their second album: Yours Truly, Angry Mob.

'I'm well chuffed,' is Wilson's verdict on their latest songs, produced again by Stephen Street, who worked on their 2005 debut, Employment.

'Many bands are too scared to disappear to write their second album. We actively wanted to get out of the public eye.

'A lot of the young bands who are hot at the moment, if they went away for a year, no one would give a s**t when they came back.'

The Kaisers' drummer and songwriter, Nick Hodgson, is stretched out on a bunk. 'We've become more accomplished but we still recorded this in our old rehearsal room in Leeds,' he says. 'We just wanted to go home.'

Wilson nods: 'It means you don't end up at showbiz parties and in gossip pages.' Not that Wilson is averse to showbiz - his band swept the Brits last year (he turned up to present this year) and he's proved to be a dynamic live performer, even playing with his leg in plaster following a hit-and-run incident.

These likely lads (Wilson and Hodgson are joined by bassist Simon Rix, guitarist Andrew 'Whitey' White and keyboardist Nick 'Peanut' Baines) might be contrary but that's key to their charm.

Their new album is reflective (the wry nostalgia of Highroyds, The Angry Mob's dig at social hysteria) yet uncomplicated (encapsulated in the repetitive refrain of current single Ruby).

Their vocalist flits between sounding cocky and self-critical ('I always remember the bad gigs') and can't decide how he'd describe the Kaisers' songs.

'They're funny but not "quirky"; calling them "intelligent" just sounds pompous... They're pop - but they're not,' Wilson finally concludes.

The Kaisers' aforementioned choruses - essentially, crowd chants - are a distinguishing mark of their music, drawing love/hate reactions.

Wilson is cheerfully unrepentant: 'We like making big singalong hits,' he says. 'We wanna play massive places where people are having the time of their life. I don't get people who refuse to like something that's obviously likeable.

'Recently, I was watching "America's No.1 artist" Norah Jones perform on TV and later I couldn't remember anything about it. That is the epitome of one of our new tracks, Everything Is Average Nowadays.'

'I can't sing one Arcade Fire song,' argues Hodgson. 'Even Nirvana had singalong songs. We started from Year Zero with the Kaiser Chiefs,' he continues, referring to the band's overlooked former incarnation, Parva.

'When you don't think that people are gonna take any notice, you do what you want.'

Now that people do notice, he points out that they're a five-piece: 'I think it's weird when we're referred to as "Ricky Wilson and co".

For us, it's "No one and co". Ricky doesn't get more say than the rest of us,' says Hodgson.

'Yeah, to just pick out the best-looking one is ridiculous,' smiles Wilson. 'Though in some bands, it's probably justified - "Gary Lightbody and co", "Johnny Borrell and co".'

The joshing comes with a decade's worth of mutual respect. Wilson gives Hodgson credit: 'A band always needs to have someone steering the ship - even though they may not be the captain. And I can't play anything - although I'm a whiz at the tambourine.'

Hodgson grins: 'What's the best thing about Ricky? The gigs would be f***ing rubbish without him.'

Although it's not strictly a concept album, the Kaisers' latest material explores recurring themes of victory and defeat, evident on The Angry Mob in Love Is Not A Competition (But I'm Winning) and Boxing Champ.

Hodgson takes over impressively poignant lead vocals on the latter track. Wilson approves: 'It wouldn't have sounded as honest if I'd sung it.'

Hodgson is already thinking beyond the confines of two albums. 'Over the past few days, I've been writing stuff for the fourth album; the third album's recorded and mixed,' he says.

'The record company don't know about it - but the fourth album cost about £40. That's less than a pound a minute,' claims Wilson.

Sounds like a steal - but first, this new material represents a fine return. If the Kaisers were to sign off Yours Truly, Angry Mob with a PS note, what would it be?

'Hmm, PS, it's only music...' begins Hodgson. He glances at Wilson and they both exclaim, with matching 'peace' gestures: 'Like David Cameron would say: "Chill out, man!"'

Ruby (B-Unique) is out today. Kaiser Chiefs' British tour begins on Wednesday and they play Shepherd's Bush Empire March 2 to 4. The album Yours Truly, Angry Mob is out on February 26.

 

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