The Strokes have completed three new songs, frontman Julian Casablancas has revealed.

The group reconvened in their New York rehearsal studio earlier this year to begin work on their as-yet-untitled fourth album.

In an interview with Rolling Stone, Casablancas said the new material had “a '70s vibe, like Thin Lizzy or Elvis Costello.

“But then some of it is bizarre music from the future that we're trying to tone down to sound catchy," he added. "So we're trapped between the future and the '70s."

Casablancas also revealed that the each band member had become more open in the studio than on their previous albums.

"We didn't used to be honest - there would always be mini feuds over stupid shit,” he said.

“Now, if Nick [Valensi] and Fab [Moretti] or anyone are saying they like it fast or slow, we'll talk about it, as opposed to saying, 'Well, I never liked you sister'."

Meanwhile, The Strokes' manager Ryan Gentles said that, despite the band's progress, it was unlikely their new album would arrive in 2009.

"No recording studio time has been booked yet, as they sketch out the blueprints of new songs and fine-tune plans in their rehearsal space, but it will undoubtedly be all mapped out and etched in stone at some point in the not-too-distant future," he said in a fan mailout.

“I wish I could tell you that this definitely meant we can expect an album release date before the end of 2009, but it's just too soon to speculate on that for sure yet.

“One way or another...suffice to say, the work has begun!"

The Strokes' last album, 'First Impressions Of Earth', was released in 2006.

(by Jason Gregory)