Fratelli frontman Jon Lawler and Velvet Club singer Lou Hickey bagged themselves most stylish band award at this year's Scottish Style Awards before their debut album had even landed.

Now, there's just a month to wait for their self-titled album to appear.

But with moody single Vanity Kills already out there, no-one can be in much doubt that Codeine Velvet Club is high on glamour and mood.

In the run-up to the big release, the band are performing a series of dates across the UK just to get us all warmed up for the album.

But when you are Jon Lawler, fresh from a few years on meltdown schedule as a member of The Fratellis, wouldn't you prefer to be taking a bit of time off like the rest of the band - not fitting in a whole new project?

"There's something good about having to prove something to yourself," said Jon.

"I got that same feeling of excitement you do when you're starting something from scratch, the excitement you get when you're starting something good."

The Fratellis finished their tour dates back in July and Jon had already revealed in the press that he was keen to do a solo album while the band took a break. But the idea for what would become Codeine Velvet Club had been forming before that and that well-known Glasgow singer Lou Hickey was going to be involved.

"Back in February and March I started writing some songs and we recorded them in May," revealed Jon.

Originally, the news came that the album would be out in November, so why the delay?

Jon explained: "I guess it's my fault because there was something eating away at me about something in one of the songs and the way it had been recorded. It'll be something no-one else will hear, but I think people might have noticed. But there is no point spending time and money and energy for it then not to sound how you wanted it to.

"There's plenty of stories of bands who 25 years later wished that they could have changed something about their album if they had had the chance.

"So, eventually, I decided I would have to change it. The changes put the release date back five weeks. You should always accept that nothing is going to be perfect - but I'll be happy when I hear the album now!"

But as anyone who saw the full band perform at Loopallu back in September will know, the set of songs was as much an experience, steeped in an atmosphere of long-ago glamour, as it was a simple set of songs.

Jon said: "It's hard to talk about this without it sounding pretentious. But you couldn't really play the songs in a jeans and T-shirt - people wouldn't buy it! Live, they take on a life of their own. They are less orchestral live - maybe more showbandy! - and it's the kind of thing I'd want to go and see!"

Into the almost Bond movie theme luxury of the band's big, big sound, they slipped in a totally unexpected cover at Loopallu that sounded pretty good in its Codeine Velveted new jacket.

"I could never see the point of doing a complete copy of a cover, so we were looking for something in a completely opposite style," said Jon of their version of Stone Roses classic I Am The Resurrection.

"I've always loved the song, it's really pretty and really English. But I think we got away with it!" laughed Jon.

Though it's likely to be a long-gone America you find yourself thinking about in songs such as Hollywood, Jon revealed it was actually while on tour in Australia and not strolling down Sunset Boulevard where the idea for it landed.

"That song came to me walking along a beach called Byron Bay outside Brisbane last September or October when The Fratellis were touring and we were playing a festival there.

"And it was freezing!"

* Codeine Velvet Club play Ironworks, Inverness, on Wednesday. The band is also among those celebrating Scotland's music at Homecoming Live: Final Fling, at the Glasgow SECC on Saturday.

entertainment@highland-news.co.uk

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