Hercules & Love Affair lynchpin Andy Butler has revealed new material he's been writing for the disco outfit's second album has been influenced by Brian Eno.

Butler told The Quietus today that he'd been assimilating the ambient maestro's "soft, trance-like" qualities into songs being penned for the follow-up to this year's acclaimed self-titled debut, released on DFA in March.

"I’ve been working on more minimalist compositions," Butler said. "I’d say I’ve written maybe two or three songs which are informed by that tradition.

"There’s something trance-like and soft about the music. It’s almost akin to an artist like Brian Eno, a kind of ambient pop thing."

Butler also claimed the record would be "more melodic" than the first, but that it would still be a mix of arty and pop styles.

"In terms of genre I'm pitting disco and house music against effective pop structures," he said. "It’s easier on the ear than the first record, I think it'll be be a bit less dissonant, more lyrical and pretty.

"Some of the music is a little bit arty and some of it is more direct, more traditional disco, chorusy music. But in general it’s been quite melodic."

Hercules & Love Affair round off their European tour with a trio of UK dates this week, beginning with a show at new London club Matter in London tomorrow (Nov 28).

Butler said of the capital date: "It’s gonna be fun, I’ve heard really good things about Matter and the sound system’s supposed to be unbelievable so it should be cool."

November

28 London Matter @ The O2 w/ The Golden Filter and Pat Mahoney (LCD Soundsystem) DJ set
29 Manchester Warehouse
30 Glasgow Arches