It was, according to frontman Dan Gillespie Sells, a necessary approach for a band that wanted to concentrate on their songwriting craft.

"We've taken our time and the reason is we've not been prepared to give it to the label until it is good enough," Sells told Music Week. "That has to be the case if you want to survive in an industry where what you want to do is songwriting."

Island Records head of A&R Louis Bloom said he ...