NATURAL 'MYSTICS'!

Flaming Lips have almost finished work on their new album, and have told fans to expect a more "organic" sound.

The album, recorded at producer Dave Fridmann's Tarbox Studios, will be the group’s first since 2002’s ‘Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots’.

Going by the working title of ‘At War With The Mystics’, the album has been scheduled for release mid-2005.

"We've moved away from robot sounds to sounds that are made by robots that come off organic," frontman Wayne Coyne explained to Blender magazine.

"It's getting into a space-age jazz element, a sort of progressive Dixieland, hopefully not too far out of the realm of what's listenable." He said he hopes the new record will keep the Flaming Lips "element of psychiatric injury".

Tracks expected to appear on the album are 'Space Bible' and 'Mr Ambulance Driver'.

"It's about a guy and a gal," said Coyne of 'Mr Ambulance Driver', "And the gal is dying after a car accident and it's the moment they share as the ambulance approaches."

The veteran group, who will appear in the US at All Tomorrow’s Parties next month, have also written new track 'Spongebob & Patrick Confront The Psychic Wall of Energy' for forthcoming film 'Spongebob Squarepants Movie'.