IT is almost hard to believe Wild Beasts were being courted for their first record deal 10 years ago this month. The four-piece originally from Kendal in Cumbria went on to sign to the mighty independent label Domino Records and produced a record that nodded in parts to breakthrough label-mates Franz Ferdinand while looking to constantly evolve their frantic, off-kilter sound.

Having just released fifth album Boy King, guitarist Ben Little tells The Guide the band always aim to surprise themselves.

He says, “We went to America and used John Congleton [who produced The Walkmen and War On Drugs among others] for Boy King – it was pretty refreshing after co-producing and recording in London.

“John brought this don’t-give-a-f*** attitude and it became easy when we recorded it. The first drum sound was what we went with.

“It was recorded and mixed very quickly, which was a good way of doing things.”

“Richard Formby [who produced albums Two Dancers, 2008, and Smother, 2011] and Alex Dromgoole [who produced 2014’s Present Tense and mixed with Formby] were super-talented and we learnt so much from them.

“But you want to surprise yourself and keep things interesting, for yourselves more than anything.

“All my favourite artists have that element of surprise.

“David Bowie or even modern artists like Kanye West, it’s interesting how they make records and you can see how they reinvent themselves.”

Little says the band made a concious effort not to over-demo before recording.

He says, “Our last record was like that – we had the lab coats on and it was time to get rid of them and put the leather jackets on, leaving in the mistakes and gestures.”

But don’t expect a guitar record – Wild Beasts have moved progressively away from guitars and towards synthesizers as they have worked through their albums.

“I wouldn’t say guitars are dead,” says Little, “But they are used to death.

“With keyboards there is an emotional feeling you can get by pressing one key that will be a completely different emotion to the next setting. There are always ways to interpret things.”

Little reveals himself not to be a guitarist’s guitar player: “I’m not too fussed about the next new guitar or whatever. I actually learnt on the Burns guitar I use so it’s probably a comfort thing. I’m just very comfortable with that guitar.”

That said, Little admits the new record is “more ego-driven”.

“This record is very much chest-out,” he says, “You have to put on a mask to go out and play it. It’s a nice place to step into. In a way it is a front. None of us are these big look-at-me characters but when you’re an artist in a band you can do that.

“We were kicking against that when we started out. We were definitely trying to be different. But it’s not necessarily a bad thing to put on a mask.”

Beyond the masks, Little says lyrics are important: “There’s a shift away from being attached to full records and I do think it’s a shame that a body of work isn’t understood in the same way nowadays.

“There’s less of a connection to an artist’s work as a whole. Lyrics are so important, whether they be clever or dumb lyrics. It’s a craft to get that right.”

The band plays two nights at The Old Market. It’s interesting to hear why Wild Beasts would not just choose to play one bigger venue.

Little says, “Going out and playing to thousands of people is quite daunting and we really enjoy playing these smaller venues.

“Touring can be tough and tiring but it’s an amazingly privileged thing to do. It’s our bread and butter.”

The band started out playing its gigs in Leeds because of the lack of scene in Kendal and is now based in London.

Little says, “It was definitely isolating and frustrating in Kendal.

“We were young guys and it was all about getting stuff off our chests and it was quite full-on. Lawrence [head of Domino] thought we were on to something.

“We built a world for ourselves and I think we still have that element to ourselves of being self-sufficient.”

>>> Wild Beasts play The Old Market, Upper Market Street, Hove, on Thursday, July 28, and Friday, July 29. Doors 7.30pm, tickets £18.50, call 01273 201801.