"We're writing some of the best songs we've ever written"

The Edge has revealed that the new U2 album is coming together "really well", is likely to be out in early 2004 and will be accompanied by a tour.

Talking in London after the band picked up an Ivor Novello Award for 'Outstanding Song Collection', he said: "We're writing some of the best songs we've ever written. It's encouraging to get an award like this, it's encouraging us to kick even harder and make sure that the next batch of songs are as good as anything we've ever done."

As for the studio work in progress, the guitarist adds: "It's hard to describe it, other than just very raw rock 'n' roll. A band in its primary colours of guitar, bass, drums, voice and a lot of vitality and energy. So far anyway. By the time it comes out it could be a country & western album!"

Acknowledging that there's a definite "if it ain't broke don't fix it" vibe about the sessions, he concludes: "For me the last record and tour was just a return to the basic sound of the electric guitar and how amazing that can sound – the simplicity of it. And this new record follows on from that, but even more extreme. We'll probably spend the rest of the year finishing it and we'll maybe have it out early next year. Will we tour the album? I'm sure we will."

Meanwhile, May 27 found Bono singing an English language version of 'Ave Maria' and an orchestrally-backed 'One' at Pavarotti's United Nations Humanitarian Relief concert in Moderna, Italy.