U2 guitarist The Edge has unveiled details about the working title for the band's new album – but stopped short of announcing the actual name.

The guitarist said the current title for the album, which is out next year, was based on “a kind of Zen image”.

"It's an image, [frontman] Bono tells me. It's like when you're moving forward, but you’re not exactly sure what you're heading towards – that moment where the sea and the sky blend into one,” he said.

“It's an image of infinity, I suppose – a kind of Zen image."

The Edge also revealed that the band scrapped tracks originally recorded with producer Rick Rubin for the album because the collaboration hadn't worked out.

"We actually laid all that stuff to one side. Really out of deference to Rick and that set of songs we just said, OK, that’s that, and we drew a line," he said.

“So none of the Rick material went into this project. Everything has been written subsequently."

U2 eventually went on to record the album with Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois at their home studios in Dublin.

As previously reported, U2's new album is due to be released in early Spring 2009.

(by Jason Gregory)