How did the title for the album, 'Heathen Chemistry', come about?
Noel: It’s one of them, I can’t remember, I can’t remember where, hang on a minute, which story have I been using, I’ve been using...(confers with Liam). I dunno, it’s just two words stuck together that could conjure up many, many, many images. It’s like the 'Hindu Times', it doesn’t mean anything. It’s an abstract free-form thought, mate.

Liam, you’ve written three songs on the album. How do you feel about that?
Liam: I just wrote songs for me, for my personal pleasure, and then people heard them, liked them, gave them a chance and then that’s where they are. I’m not arsed, you know what I mean. I didn’t go and fight them and say I want a song on the album. I was quite happy playing them in my house and I still would be. So, it’s just a hobby for me. I do it cos I want to, not because I have to.
Noel: Now, do you want the truth! He said he was going to write one song for 'Standing on the Shoulder of Giants'. He was 'just one that’s all I want, just one, just one go on one album that’ll do me'. All of a sudden he turns into Orson Welles. But there you go. It’s a cross we’ll have to bear now for the rest of our career no doubt. I apologise to the people of England.

Why now?
Liam: He’s getting older man, he has to take it easy!
Noel: It’s with great relief that everyone else is...well, it’s a relief it doesn’t all have to be on my shoulders any more. Gem’s done one, Andy’s done one and I’ve done six.

What's it like being in a band with your brother?
Noel: It’s great.
Liam: It’s great knowing that one’s older than you, he hits 40 before you.

Collaborations. You’ve both done your own bits and pieces. What do you gain from it?
Liam: I can’t tell you actually. I shall be working with Sophie Ellis Bextor on her new single...(winks)
Noel: I’ll tell you. He’s doing the Tweenies remix album. It’s nice to give these lesser bands a boost. Well you know, we’re providing a public service to the charts. It’s like community service, take a pair of losers and get them a No.1. I dunno, it depends. We’re available for hire anyway.