Metronomy are making headway with album number three, says mastermind Joseph Mount.

He revealed he and Oscar Cash - keyboardist, saxophonist and backing vocals - have been working in the studio with former bassist Gabriel Stebbing, who left in May to concentrate on his own band Your Twenties.

The electronic outfit are still riding high after the release of their last album, Nights Out, which was released in September last year - they played a one-off show in London on Friday (18 September), before heading off to Australia and the US.

"I've started working with an engineer in a real studio," he said. "Oscar's been playing on songs and Gabriel came in and played some bass guitar, so it's going be a lot more like everyone's going to be involved."

But it does not mean the original bassist is back for good, said Joseph: "Gabriel's not back. Thing is, it's difficult, he's one of the best bass players out there, so it's difficult not to ask him back.

"The last two records I did on my own in my bedroom studio, so I just thought why not give working in a different way a go."

Joseph Mount

"He's busy but that's fine, we're having a lovely time with Anna [Prior, former Lightspeed Champion drummer] and Gbenga [Adelekan, bassist]."

Joseph said, in fact, the new line-up has injected a new energy: "It's gone amazingly well and everyone seems to think it's all an improvement. "

Me and Oscar were saying it's such a relief because imagine if it had gone the other way, if it had just been terrible and suddenly, because of Gabriel going off to do his own thing, Metronomy collapsed.

"I think we had karma on our side for that, because it's been brilliant."

As for working with a skilled sound engineer in a 'proper' studio, Joseph said he's enjoying the difference: "The last two records I did on my own in my bedroom studio, so I just thought why not give working in a different way a go and it's a lot more exciting.

"You feel like you're a real musician."

Metronomy hope to have the new record out at the beginning of summer 2010, with a single ready for March.

They are performing a London show as part of the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Electric Proms on Thursday 22 October.