In common with its occasional occupants, U2’s famous Hanover Quay studio on Dublin’s Docklands is still standing tall and sturdy in the midst of a whole lot of rock & rubble. As the nineties segued into the noughties, most of the buildings surrounding the innocuous-looking, warehouse-like structure were demolished to make way for an as-yet-unfinished public promenade, but as Sam, the highly affable studio manager, explains, “The corporation seem to have slowed up the project a bit, so it should be here for another couple of years yet.”

If cracking new single ‘Electrical Storm’ is anything to go on (and, of course, it is) then it’s probably safe to say that the same is true of U2. Barring death, divorce or disaster, Bono, Larry, Adam and Edge will undoubtedly be with us for another couple of years yet. Midway through their third decade together, and coming off the back of the enormous twin successes of their acclaimed All That You Can’t Leave Behind album and the subsequent Elevation tour, the band have never seemed so tight, potent, real and relevant. As the vast majority of their contemporaries fall by the wayside, fade into obscurity or survive by unashamedly rehashing their tired old formulas, U2 are one of the few acts who’ve been around since the 70’s who’re still risk-taking, still experimenting with sonic possibilities and pushing the rock & roll envelope out. No wonder they’ve just been put on a stamp!

Inside, through the heavy metal door and past the security cameras, Hanover Quay is bright, spacious and if not quite alive with activity, not quite dead either. The band haven’t arrived yet but have telephonically communicated that they’re on their way (with the exception of Bono, who’s lying low somewhere, recuperating from his latest trans-Atlantic jaunt).