Barely a minute into our conversation, and without prompt Franz Ferdinand drummer Paul Thomson begins talking up the virtues of Japan

"Japan is a planet to me, it blows my mind," he says. "It's about as different as you can get from the U.K. There is so much noise, light, passion; it's such an exciting place. There are so many great cities. My favorite is Osaka, I think, it's even crazier than Tokyo, if that's possible."

Speaking from Berne, the "fourth most popular city in Switzerland," Thomson is surprisingly relaxed amid a busy period supporting his band's excellent third album "Tonight: Franz Ferdinand."