Sir Elton John has described his new album, The Diving Board, as the ‘most exciting solo record I've done in a long, long time.’

The 64-year-old, whose eventful life is set to be the subject of a biopic starring Justin Timberlake, told Rolling Stone magazine that he was initially reluctant to record the follow-up to 2010’s collaborative effort with Leon Russell:

"I was due to go back into the studio, but I didn't know whether I wanted to go back in so quickly (after The Union).”

The ‘Rocket Man’ then confessed that he initially ignored a stack of lyrics sent to him by long-term collaborator Bernie Taupin: "I was on holiday and I didn't even look at them. But I said, 'I'll go into the studio and if it doesn't work out, it doesn't matter.'"

However, John went onto enjoy a prolific creative streak, writing twelve songs in two days and recording them in four. 

He added: “It just came flooding out. Quickest record I've ever made. I'm as psyched about it as I was with The Union. As I said with The Union, I had to go back to go forward, and it's the same with this record.”

Produced by T-Bone Burnett, and featuring Raphael Saadiq on bass, the album is expected to be released after he finishes his UK tour, which kicks off at Taunton's Somerset Cricket Club in June.