Jim Noir's brand of pop electronica has been making some waves of late. I caught up with the Mancunian songsmith to ask him some questions about his new album, touring with the Super Furry Animals and his phobia of cowboys...

Three's A Crowd - Hi Jim, how're you doing?

Jim Noir - I'm ok, I'm in my flat in Manchester.

TAC - Now Jim Noir – that's not your real name is it? A little bird tells me this has to do with Vic Reeves' real name – tell me a bit about that. A bit of hero worship was it?

JN - It was a joke that stuck. Vic ditched it wasn't showbiz, so I changed one letter and made it showbiz.

TAC - You make all the noises on the album yourself. How did this come about? Didn't you ever want to get together with an actual band?

JN – Erm, I didn't have a choice – I have no friends. Although I've had more drummers than Spinal Tap

AC - So you'd describe yourself as a multi-instrumentalist.

JN – Multi-mentalist certainly.

TAC - Your biography mentions you trying to assemble the first “Wasp Orchestra”. What's the about?

JN - Yeah, it was an idea. It's not going very well well because I've actually got a big fear of wasps. I just hate them, they're evil. I don't want to malign wasps though, just in case they come and get me.

TAC – So you've just returned from South by Southwest. What was that like? Was the environment in Texas very different?

JN – It was pretty marvelous actually; we played quite a few gigs over there. It's strange having a festival in a city centre. It's all based on one road and there are bits and bobs everywhere. Texas is really friendly, really chilled out. There are no cowboys though.

TAC - Wasn't that really disappointing having no cowboys? – I would've wanted to see cowboys.