FRANZ FERDINAND have said their third album is almost complete, but reports have suggested it will not be released until January, the CM reported.
Speaking to BBC 6 Music at Latitude Festival last weekend, the band said they have finished recording tracks for the album, but added that it still needs mixing.
However, the band also spoke about splitting from their former producer Brian Higgins - who has built his reputation on commercial work with the likes of GIRLS ALOUD, SUGABABES and KYLIE MINOUGUE.
Franz frontman Alex Kapranos said: "Brian's a really great guy and the stuff that they do down at Xenomania is unique and there's nobody else really doing stuff like that, but they have a completely different way of working from us.
"While it was fun to hang out together, it didn't really work. I still get the odd email from Brian and they're doing interesting things, but not with us."
Elsewhere, Kapranos ahs said he would like to do more record producing in the future.