Maximo Park begin recording third album

have announced that they have started recording the follow-up to last year's UK Top Five album 'Our Earthly Pleasures'.

The Newcastle quintet have set up camp in Los Angeles with producer Nick Launay, who has worked with Talking Heads, Kate Bush, PiL and Nick Cave.

The as-yet untitled new record is due for release in spring 2009.

Speaking about the forthcoming offering, singer Paul Smith said in a statement: "The whole affair is going to be quite stripped down compared to the last album because we don't like to repeat ourselves.

"Our producer Nick thinks it's a dance record, and who are we to disagree? Don't be alarmed though, we won't be donning face masks and Gore-Tex like Altern 8, or dancing like electric monkeys. Apart from Lukas [Wooller, keyboards]."

The band have posted in-the-studio pictures and blogs at Maximopark.com.