British powerhouse Bush has been actively working on new material and plans to have a new album out within the next six months.|

The group's lead singer, Gavin Rossdale, has been holed up in a rented house on the coast of Ireland writing new material since the band completed their aggressive touring schedule in 1997, according to Michael Pagnotta, the band's publicist. "Gavin has written nine tracks and demoed them for the rest of the band last week in New York," Pagnotta said.

Rossdale is writing all the songs, but the production of this album is a collaborative effort from the entire band. Although Pagnotta couldn't say what the new material sounds like, he did say it would differ from the songs on Razorblade Suitcase, their 1996 release.

"For Razorblade Suitcase, Bush worked with Steve Albini and recorded the entire album in two and a half weeks," he said. This time around, the group is taking their time. "They plan to go into the studio soon, most likely in the U.K., and will hopefully have an album out six to nine months from now."

The other members of Bush, who have been working on independent projects at various locations across the globe, are now focused on adding their own touches to Rossdale's new material. "The only difference with this [recording] process is they're not physically together on the road, touring and working out new songs during a sound check," Pagnotta said.

Following last year's tour, which included an appearance at Q101's Jamboree, Bush made a concerted effort to take off some time and relax. Guitarist Nigel Pulsford has been working on music and spending time with his sister in Nashville, where the two have talked about spearheading a Thelonious Monk tribute album; bassist Dave Parsons and drummer Robin Goodridge have been hanging out in Paris and the South of France, respectively.

Keep your ears open for a new album later this year and stay tuned for more information.

In related news, Pulsford jammed with Velvet Underground co-founder John Cale Monday night at a benefit for Tibet House at Carnegie Hall in New York. The two performed "Gun" and "Cable Hogue," two Cale songs, and were then joined by Jerry Harrison (former keyboardist for the Talking Heads), Phillip Glass and members of Live to sing "Pablo Picasso," a song Cale produced for the Modern Lovers in 1976. (Ari Bendersky)