NIGHT TRAIN OUT TODAY

Yes, the wait is over - and Keane's fantastic new 8-track EP, Night Train, is now available from music retailers across the planet. Buy it now from the following places:UK- CD from Amazon UK- Download from iTunes UKUSA- CD from Amazon US- Download from Amazon US- Download from iTunes USWORLDWIDE- Download from iTunes worldwide- CD from official Keane Store

NIGHT TRAIN TRACK BY TRACK #6: YOUR LOVE

The sixth Night Train track-by-track video, features Tom chatting about Your Love, in which lead vocals are handled by Tim.Track 5: Ishin Denshin (You've Got To Help Yourself)Track 4: Clear SkiesTrack 3: Stop For A MinuteTrack 2: Back In TimeTrack 1: House LightsNight Train is out tomorrow! You can order it from the official Keane store by clicking here.

US NIGHT TRAIN PREMIERE TODAY

UPDATE: Following your comments below, we've asked the band's American label for clarification on exactly where U.S. fans can hear Night Train on MySpace (we're obviously in the UK, so unfortunately can't check). This is what they said: "You need to click "albums" in the player, then Night Train to get the secondary premiere page, where you'll be able to hear it. You should also be able to access it directly by clicking here.From today until Monday, Keane fans in the U.S. will be able to listen to Night Train in full over on Keane's MySpace profile - at www.myspace.com/keane.If you're in America and you'd like to pre-order Night Train, you can do so from the following links:- Amazon US- iTunes

HEAR NIGHT TRAIN ON SPOTIFY NOW

Premium users of Spotify in the UK and in Spain can now hear the whole of Night Train via the streaming service, by clicking here. Those of you who are not paying subscribers can hear three tracks: Stop For A Minute, Clear Skies and My Shadow.Also, Tim has put together a terriric Spotify playlist of some of his favourite tracks, which you can listen to here.

NIGHT TRAIN TRACK BY TRACK #5

Our fifth Night Train track-by-track video, features Tom chatting about Ishin Denshin (You've Got To Help Yourself), which features Japanese MC Tigarah.

Track 4: Clear Skies
Track 3: Stop For A Minute
Track 2: Back In Time
Track 1: House Lights

Night Train is out on May 10. You can pre-order it from the official Keane store by clicking here.

NIGHT TRAIN TRACK BY TRACK #4

The fourth of our Night Train track-by-track videos, sees Tom chatting about Clear Skies.

Track 3: Stop For A Minute
Track 2: Back In Time
Track 1: House Lights

Night Train is out on May 10. You can pre-order it from the official Keane store by clicking here.

NIGHT TRAIN RELEASED IN TWO WEEKS!

Yes, there are now just two weeks to go until the release of Night Train, featuring eight new tracks. The EP is now available to pre-order from all good retailers. Click the links below to order your copy and be among the first to hear it (which is always nice).

- CD from Play.com

- Download from iTunes UK (includes bonus remix, photos and videos) NB: if that link doesn't work where you are, please search "Keane Night Train" in your iTunes store and it should pop up. Or click here for the US iTunes Store.

- CD from the Keane official store

NIGHT TRAIN TRACK BY TRACK #3

In the third of our series of Night Train track-by-track videos, Tom discusses Stop For A Minute. You can download that track from iTunes by clicking here.

Night Train is out on May 10. You can pre-order it from the official Keane store by clicking here.

NIGHT TRAIN TRACK BY TRACK #2

Yes, it's the second of our series of videos (made at the Stop For A Minute shoot) in which Tom discusses the 8 tracks on Keane's upcoming new release, Night Train. This one is about Back In Time.

Night Train is out on May 10. You can pre-order it from the official Keane store by clicking here.

PRE-ORDER NIGHT TRAIN FROM ITUNES, DOWNLOAD STOP FOR A MINUTE & CLUB DATES

We're pleased to announce Keane's storming new track, Stop For A Minute, is now available to download from iTunes stores worldwide. Click here to get hold of it.

You can also now pre-order Night Train from iTunes, ahead of its May 10th release. The iTunes version will come with the Stop For A Minute video, the Beatnick & K-Salaam remix of the track, plus iTunes LP videos and photo gallery. Click here to pre-order your copy now for £5.99. (NB: the single and pre-order will be available on US iTunes from 20 April)

And that's not all - after selling out their entire six-date June 2010 forest tour, Keane have announced plans to intersperse the tour with shows at club venues in London, Birmingham, Glasgow and Dublin.

Says Tim: "The forest shows we're playing in June will be big, glorious singalongs, but we wanted to play some more sweaty and intimate gigs along the way." He added, "We figured out the other day that we haven't played in Birmingham since February 2007. Birmingham was one of the first cities to really embrace Keane - in fact, we think it was the scene of our first sold out show - so it's about time we got back there."

The dates are as follows:

15th June - The Roundhouse, London
16th June - Academy, Birmingham
21st June - Barrowlands, Glasgow
23rd June - Olympia, Dublin

Tickets for the new shows will go on sale at 9.30am on Wednesday April 14th, via a pre-sale in our official ticket shop, www.keanemusic.com/tickets.

NIGHT TRAIN TRACK BY TRACK #1

Today, we're kicking off a new series of videos (made at the Stop For A Minute shoot) in which Tom discusses the 8 tracks on Keane's upcoming new release, Night Train. We begin with a short but sweet look at the EP's opening track, House Lights.

Night Train is out on May 10. You can pre-order it from Play.com (with free delivery to many countries) by clicking here.

STOP FOR A MINUTE VIDEO

Here it is - the Stop For A Minute video, in all its HD glory!

You can check out our live blog from the video shoot by clicking here.

Stop For A Minute, featuring K'Naan, is taken from the Night Train EP, which will be released on CD and download on May 10 - and you can pre-order a special numbered edition of the EP through the Keane Store (for just £6.99 / €8.12 / US$11.44) right now by clicking here. NB: We will stop taking orders for the special km.com version at 5pm on April 1st.

VIDEO PREMIERE ON SUNDAY

We're very pleased to report that the Stop For A Minute video will get its world premiere this Sunday night, March 28th, at 12.05am (ie just as Monday begins). It will be on Channel 4 here in the UK. We will then endeavour to get the video up on km.com as soon as we can after that.

If you missed our behind-the-scenes look at the Stop For A Minute video shoot, then click here (the picture on the telly above is taken from that, not from the actual video).

HEAR STOP FOR A MINUTE!

Click here to listen

Now that Stop For A Minute has made its radio debut, we're able to give you a 90 second preview of the track right here on keanemusic.com. We hope you like. (Until Mar 19, you can also hear the full version of the song on the BBC iPlayer after 1h 53m here.)

Night Train (featuring Stop For A Minute) will be released on CD and download on May 10 - and you can pre-order a special numbered edition of the EP through the Keane Store (for just £6.99 / €8.12 / US$11.44) right now by clicking here.

(And, yes, we really did manage to stop a stopwatch on exactly one minute for the picture.)

CLEAR SKIES' RADIO DEBUT ON BBC 6 MUSIC TODAY: UPDATE

UPDATE: You can listen again to the track on the BBC iPlayer by clicking here. Clear Skies is on after 1h 48m (it's there until Monday, March 15).

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Clear Skies, one of the tracks on Keane's amazing new Night Train EP, will have its first play on radio this afternoon, on Steve Lamacq's BBC 6 Music show. It's on from 4pm until 7pm (UK time) and you can listen online, wherever in the world you are, by clicking here (and then clicking "Listen Live"). Obviously please feel free to let Steve know what you think of it!

Night Train will be released on CD and download on May 10 - and you can pre-order a special numbered edition of the EP through the Keane Store (for just £6.99 / €8.12 / US$11.44) right now by clicking here.

CLEAR SKIES' RADIO DEBUT ON BBC 6 MUSIC TODAY!

Clear Skies, one of the tracks on Keane's amazing new Night Train EP, will have its first play on radio this afternoon, on Steve Lamacq's BBC 6 Music show. It's on from 4pm until 7pm (UK time) and you can listen online, wherever in the world you are, by clicking here (and then clicking "Listen Live"). Obviously please feel free to let Steve know what you think of it!

Night Train will be released on CD and download on May 10 - and you can pre-order a special numbered edition of the EP through the Keane Store (for just £6.99 / €8.12 / US$11.44) right now by clicking here.

NIGHT TRAIN ARTWORK REVEALED

Yes, we're very pleased to reveal the final artwork for the Night Train EP. Isn't it lovely?

Night Train will be released on CD and download on May 10 - and you can pre-order a special numbered edition of the EP through the Keane Store right now by clicking here.

Keane "Night Train" Track by Track Album Review

Keane's "Night Train" sounds like a record the British trio had to make to get some musical urges out of their system. Listening to this album, it seems that after producing some of pop's most gorgeous ballads ever, the group wanted to let loose, let their hair down and have some fun with it.

The result is a very diverse pop record that is a classy, accomplished blend of musical styles, global rhythms and exciting new soundscapes - ranging from '80s flavored electro-pop to energetic acoustic rock to their signature pop balladry. Following the excellent "Perfect Symmetry," this new effort demonstrates once again that Tom Chaplin, Tim Rice Oxley and Richard Hughes are able to keep their new music fresh and invigorated while always presenting a sound that is undeniable their own.

To be released in the U.S. on May 11, the album also includes Somali rapper K'Naan and Japanese baile funk emcee Tigarah who add a distinct global flavor to "Night Train." Pretty fitting as most of this record was written and recorded while the group was touring across the globe last year. Here a quick run-down of the album's 8 tracks that make up Keane's fourth studio album:

Your Love
A throbbing, mid-tempo '80s flavored synth-pop gem that features the rare lead vocals of Tim Rice-Oxley. At first his voice took me off guard as his style and vocal inflection is very similar to Tom Chaplin's, but his vocals are smoother, slicker. Reminiscent of A-ha's Morten Harket. Gorgeous, sparkly chorus and an epic middle eight that sent chills up my spine. Very good and a track that clearly echoes the melodic sentiments of "Hopes & Fears." This is one of my favorite tracks on "Night Train" and will certainly be a fan favorite as well.

Stop For Minute
This celebratory track features the much-anticipated collaboration with Somali rapper K'Naan. The song is unmistakable a Keane production though with its instantly catchy piano-driven melody. K'Naan duets with Tom in the verses and chorus of the song, and lays down some rhymes during the bridge towards the end of the song. "Stop For Minute" packs a powerful, positive message and has a great singalong chorus.

My Shadow
Third track on the album is a signature Keane ballad that primarily relies on Tim's pacing piano work and Tom's angelic vocals. A great reminder of why Keane is a world-class band. So beautiful. "Shine a light on me and you will see my shadow on every wall," Tom sings.

Looking Back
Fun, brassy tune with a stomping horn section. Has a bit of bossa nova flavor to it. Would not be surprised if the guys wrote this during their South American tour dates. K'Naan adds a few of his raps, which is unexpected but totally works.

Ishin Denshin (You've Got To Help Yourself)
A very joyous electro-pop cover of the Yellow Magic Orchestra song that features Japanese baile funk MC Tigarah. This song was a truly international endeavor. Tim worked on the original idea on a plane, Richard recorded the drums in D.C., Tom did his vocals in Copenhagen, Tigarah did hers in L.A. and the group finished it off on a tour bus. I must say that the result feels a little disjointed - Tigarah's vocals don't gel all that well with Tom's.

House Lights
Brief atmospheric interlude without vocals. Has a great cinematic quality to it.

Clear Skies
This song features Keane like you rarely hear them. Song starts off acoustically with handclaps, guitars and Tom's vocals, which gradually build to the chorus when drums, bass and xylophone are added. This is a really fun experimentation with different instruments that works well and continues to grow on me the more I hear it. You can hear how bands like Radiohead and Blur inspired this track.

Back In Time
The tracks opens with frantic, jagged synths much like the opening of "Is It Any Wonder" that is repeated in the chorus. "Back In Time" is how Keane does rock and roll.

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EP TRACKLISTING ANNOUNCED

We're very pleased to announce the tracklisting of Keane's new eight-song EP, Night Train, which will be released globally on 10th May 2010. The tracklisting is as follows:

1. House Lights
2. Back In Time
3. Stop For A Minute (feat K'Naan)
4. Clear Skies
5. Ishin Denshin (You've Got To Help Yourself) (feat Tigarah)
6. Your Love
7. Looking Back (feat K'Naan)
8. My Shadow

The EP was recorded in various studios during the Perfect Symmetry world tour that saw the band playing to packed arenas in 28 countries. Highlights include Keane's genre-busting collaborations with Somali/Canadian rapper K'Naan, the irrepressible Stop For A Minute and the Rocky-inspired Looking Back. "I think those tracks show us in a completely different light," says Keane frontman Tom Chaplin.

Other definite standouts include Ishin Denshin (You've Got To Help Yourself), an addictive electro-pop number which features Japanese baile funk MC Tigarah; the gorgeous, 80s-flavoured Your Love, which hangs around a rare lead vocal from the band's Ivor Novello-winning songwriter Tim Rice-Oxley; and fans' live favourite My Shadow.

Night Train will be released on CD and download - and you can pre-order a special numbered edition of the EP through the Keane Store right now by clicking here.

TIM LOOKS BACK ON 2009

Hi everyone. Just a quick note to say thank you so much for all your love and amazing enthusiasm and support in 2009.

I think it's been our best year of touring ever - so many new places and new friends, and every tour has been fantastic fun.

It's been great to keep up the creative momentum too, and we've got loads of great memories of recording the Night Train EP on our travels - Berlin, Copenhagen, Washington DC, Brisbane and many others. I think we may well be the luckiest people on the planet!

One thing that has really stuck in my head this year - I already mentioned this in a blog I think - was a message from someone in South America saying thanks for making music that "protests against everything that harms our world". That's a huge compliment for us, but it strikes me that I also think that spirit is embodied by you guys, the fans who come to shows all over the world and are always so passionate and joyful, but also so courteous and considerate of other people. You are a positive force in the world and we couldn't ask for a better bunch of people to share our music with.

2010 is nearly upon us already, and it's nice to have some plans other than "write lots of songs and make a record" already laid. The EP will be fun, and it's great to know we already have some touring booked. And, of course, we can't wait to get into the studio and make new music together once again.

Anyway, thanks again and here's wishing you all a very Happy New Year!

Tim