The Futureheads are currently putting the finishing touches to their eagerly-awaited second album, 'News And Tributes'.

The follow-up to the band's self-titled 2004 debut is due for release in the May, which was recorded with producer Ben Hillier (Blur, Elbow) in just five-and-a-half weeks in the Yorkshire countryside.

"It's a progression, things are slightly different," explained bassist Jaff of the new record. "For me it's the singing, the accents and attitude are the same but it's a lot less cluttered."

With stand-alone single 'Area' coming out late last year, many have been surprised by the speed in which this album has been recorded.

"It worked out really well," said Jaff. "Because we started in October, it was like 'Right, we may as well try and get finished before Christmas.'"

The band's speed was partly due to the lack of distractions to be found on the Yorkshire moors where they recorded the album.

"It was remote, but not far away from civilization," said frontman Barry Hyde. "We were in this amazing farmhouse in the hills. No mobile reception or anything. It had different weather, it had its own eco-system! It was cold though, no central heating, just a coal fire."

Tracks set for inclusion on the new album include 'Fallout', 'Skip To The End', 'Face', 'Worry About It Later', 'Return Of The Berserker' and the title track, which the band explained was inspired by the 1958 Munich air disaster, which killed several young Manchester United players.