Perfect world for Eden

To coincide, the Artists Formerly Known As In Utopia are sprinting round Europe with Italian pop diva Vanessa Amerossi.

"We did a Boyzone tour a couple of years ago that we really didn’t enjoy, and as a result decided to part company with our manager and take a career break," explains one-half of the duo, Ian Henderson. "What brought us out of retirement was a call from an old producer friend of ours, Hayo Panarifo, saying ‘let’s do some tracks together’. He’s worked in the past with big names like Diana Ross and U96, and put us in touch with people at Universal who offered us a contract. We’ve also signed a publishing deal with Warner Chappell, who’ve been equally as supportive."

Although it’s been afforded "priority status" on the continent, ‘Perfect World’ won’t be emerging here until later in the year.

“The trouble with Ireland is that there’s too many boy bands clogging things up," Henderson rues. "If you’re involved with Louis Walsh, fine, but otherwise it’s virtually impossible to get exposure. It’s probably easier to make a name for yourself abroad and then come back."

Also making waves overseas is Brigid Boden, a Dublin singer-songwriter who’s just had her Innocence Is Not A Crime album released in Scandinavia by BMG/Kunduru.

A glorious amalgam of Sting, Joni Mitchell, Madonna and Sarah Brightman – honest! – it finds Boden collaborating with the 58-piece Sofia Amadeus Orchestra.