Jarvis Cocker has promised that his second album will be louder – in an attempt to stave off the possibility of a mid-life crisis.

Cocker is expected to previews tracks from the follow-up to 2006's 'Jarvis' on a short American tour this month.

Speaking to BBC 6Music, the former Pulp frontman said he hoped to get the album “recorded as soon as possible” but admitted that it probably wouldn't be released until 2009.

When asked what the new material sounded like, Cocker said he could guarantee it would be “louder” after discovering that his live band, which includes Richard Hawley, “could rock.”

“That really made me think. I’d never really had that before. Pulp could be loud, but we didn’t really rock... Well, maybe occasionally.

“So what I’ve tried to do with the new stuff, rather than me just sit there and wait for inspiration to come at some point – which takes ages – instead we’ve written stuff together. And it’s a bit louder.

“It’s probably something to do with some kind of mid-life crisis as well, y’know? Rock while to still have the ability to do it before your bits start falling off.”

(by Jason Gregory)