R.E.M guitarist Peter Buck refuses to do more than three takes when recording songs.

The 'The Great Beyond' rocker has been in the studio with the band recording their 15th album in Berlin, and while he likes to record fast, he had to compromise with bandmates singer Michael Stipe and bassist Mike Mills, who preferred a slower approach.

Peter said: "We compromise. I basically said. 'I'm not going to do a song more than three times; if we can't get a magical take in three takes, then let's just walk away from it.'

"It's a good feeling, because you have to do it, as opposed to, 'oh we can always come back to it tomorrow.'"

He added that the group had recorded around 25 songs for the as yet untitled album, which they have subsequently narrowed down to 15 or 16, though Peter said he doesn't want to include more than 12 on the final record.

Explaining why the band chose to record in Berlin, Peter added: "We pick recording places by what city we want to go and hang out in for a while. In the past we've done a few things where we've gone to smaller towns and we almost go crazy.

"I want to wander around, go to bookshops, eat different kinds of food and meet people."