Alex James: 'Blur feels like a holiday'

Alex James has said that being back in the recently reformed Blur feels less "like work" and more "like a holiday".

In an interview with XFM's Dave Berry, the bass player revealed that the band are "sounding hot" in preparation for their two-night stint at London's Hyde Park on July 2 and 3.

"It's been incredibly smooth, the whole thing. We just needed a bit of time apart, and now's the right time. We've just come straight from rehearsal and it's sounding hot, we're all just standing there, grinning our heads off," he said.

Asked about the reconciliation of frontman Damon Albarn and guitarist Graham Coxon, James continued: "They both just needed to spend time apart doing their own thing. It couldn't be rushed. It's actually been a really good thing for all of us in terms of human development - not being part of this incredibly demanding machine for a while.

"When you start playing in a band it's great fun. 10 years later, it's still good, but it just becomes work. This doesn't feel like work, it feels like a holiday."

The group released new best of collection Midlife on Monday - however, James remained cagey about the possibility of new material.

"Don't know... I just don't know," he added.