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Elvis Costello has always been one for experimenting but when it came to finding a sound for his new album he decided to go back to a tried and trusted team.
Many would say he was at his best with The Attractions with hits such as "Watching The Detectives" and "Oliver's Army" still memorable today, 15 years after they were recorded.
But with his restless desire for change, why has he revived his old band?
"The name of the album is Brutal Youth, so I thought what was needed was a group of youthful brutes and The Attractions were the natural choice," he laughs.
"But I also believe they are the greatest group in the world and having Nick Lowe along is a real luxury."
Long-time collaborator Lowe, who produced much of Costello's early work, is one of two bass players on the album (the other being Bruce Thomas) while Pete Thomas is on drums, Steve Nieve on keyboards and Costello himself plays all guitars.
However, Costello says he had no desire to re-hash the past.
"Anything that is reminiscent of it musically is there because I think it is the right music for the song.
"The lyrical comments of the songs couldn't possibly be written by the person who was 22 or 23 and made the first few records. I don't want to be "new wavy" but you can put energy into things, be more aggressive sonically.
"There's a variety of emotions and observations that you're making now, compared with the very narrow but also very livid kind of expression that was in those records."
Naturally, the end product does have flavours of early work such as Armed Forces and Almost Blue and is all the better for it while still sounding fresh for the 90s market.
"I deliberately made the music crude.
"I know it's going to offend some people while others dig it because it is very throwaway.
"Other people are going to be ill at ease with it because it isn't crafted. But it's a sort of template of how to play like this."
One thing is for sure, it is tailor-made for playing live and The Attractions will also be able to give their unique bite to the old material that has been missing in recent years.
And after touring the States and headlining at Glastonbury, fans at Newcastle City Hall are guaranteed a treat tonight.
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