Perennial cult concern Herman Dune recently returned with another record full of charm and intricate pop songs.

Next Year In Zion is the Parisian duo’s latest long-player, a warm and exuberant self-produced record that was recorded in the countryside of Provence, where the band recorded most of the songs live.

“Recording live makes everybody in the room focus on what makes the song sound right, instead of what their own part sounds like,” says frontman David-Ivar Herman Dune, who names Phil Spector and Sam Phillips as his favourite producers.

“I’ve always loved knowing how records I love were made. I love watching footage of The Beatles recording, seeing pictures of Bob Dylan, Lou Reed or The Doors in a studio.

“Trying to produce records myself is like trying all those toys and tools I’ve seen in pictures. It’s a lot of fun.”

The record includes as many nods to traditional Jewish and Eastern European instrumentation and Ennio Morricone’s desert vistas as it does to more conventional rock reference points, and there’s a distinctly upbeat feel to the songs.

“It’s the first album that I wrote while I was happy,” says David. “I used to think I needed to be a little sad, or at least melancholic to write. This one proved me wrong.”

Formed in 1999, Herman Dune have gained a considerable reputation across Europe and in the US for their prolific, DIY approach.

Originally a trio (David’s brother Andre Herman Dune left in 2006), the band found an early champion in John Peel. The number of Peel sessions they recorded is in the double digits, and the band’s early, self- consciously ramshackle shows have given way to tours with Arcade Fire and The Kooks.

Part of their appeal lies in David-Ivar Herman Dune’s stylised lyrical approach.

Born in Stockholm but raised in Paris, he learned English playing chess with his grandfather– a Swedish diplomat who lived in Washington DC – and began writing simple songs in English at 11.

His lyrical honesty, combined with his narrative ability, gives Herman Dune’s music a charm and identity that recalls Jonathan Richman and Pavement’s Steve Malkmus.

Neman Herman Dune (who is Swiss born, but was also raised in Paris) provides the steady beat that lays the foundation for David’s words and chiming guitar.

The new record also includes the efforts of backing vocalists The Babyskins (who will be the support act on Thursday), The John Natchez Bourbon Horn players (on loan from Beirut and Arcade Fire) and guitar virtuoso Dave Tattersall of The Wave Pictures.

Engineered by long-time collaborator Richard Formby, the sessions were recorded on a hand-made, vintage mixing board that used to call Abbey Road its home.

“Richard played in Spacemen 3 for a while and then in Spectrum,” David says. “We met him at his studio when we were on tour. He never uses anything digital and can name all the equipment that was in Abbey Road.”

  • Starts 9pm. Tickets £11. Call The Duke of York’s box office on 0871 7042056, Rounder Records on 01273 325440, or Resident on 01273 606312.