July 7, 2008 19:30

Bloc Party unveil surprise new single on radio

Third album taster out next month

Photo Gallery: Bloc Party

Bloc Party are set to release a brand new single next month and have previewed it on radio this evening.

'Mercury', out August 11, was announced and played for the first time on Zane Lowe's show on Radio 1 at 7.30pm (BST) tonight (July 7).

Speaking to Lowe about 'Mercury', frontman Kele Okereke said: "It's a song we finished a little while ago that we're really proud of so we thought we'd let everyone hear it. I'm still somewhat in awe."

Asked about the state of the band's upcoming third album, produced by Paul Epworth and Jacknife Lee, Okereke said: "I think we're making the record I always wanted us to make. We're kind of just in the middle of it, we're still writing songs and mixing stuff."

He added that the album could be released as early as the end of the year.

Bloc Party fans had this morning been left bemused after a countdown on the band's website led to only an advert for Zane Lowe's radio show.

'Mercury' and its video are available to access on Zane Lowe's page on the Radio 1 site from now.

The single will come as a seven-inch featuring B-side 'Idea For A Story', an extended 12-inch edition which also features the instrumental and a CD featuring remixes from Herve Is In Disarray, CSS and Flosstradamus.