The Come On Eileen hitmakers announced last year (11) they are preparing to release their first full collection of new material since 1985's Don't Stand Me Down.
Now Rowland has revealed the album, due to hit stores in June (12), almost didn't happen as his frustrations boiled over in the studio.
He tells Mojo magazine, "I reached a stage four years ago when I was trying to do some demos. It was going all right but I was thinking, 'This is hard work', I wasn't enjoying it, I was getting frustrated, I was thinking, 'I don't think I can do this, I think I'll try something else'.
"I'd be focusing on a song and spending the whole morning thinking about the hi-hat pattern. And then I got lucky and all the factors came together."
Rowland also confirms the band - now renamed simply Dexys - will hit the road for a tour and may even record a follow-up album, adding, "The next step is live shows, we're planning them and I'd like to do another album. I've got plenty of ideas, but you know what, I'm just glad we've got this one done."