The Strokes will return to the studio to record their fourth album in February 2009, bassist Nikolai Fraiture has revealed.

Fraiture, who launched his own solo project in London last night (October 15th), blamed the band's other commitments for the delay in recording a follow-up to 2006's 'First Impressions of Earth'.

"We are looking at going into the studio in February now and getting back to being a band again,” he told the BBC.

"It started with Nick (Valensi) having twins with his wife (two years ago) and he asked for a good amount of time off.

"After about six months he was ready to come back but other members of the band were doing their own thing. Albert (Hammond Jr) was doing his thing with his solo project and Julian (Casablancas) needed time off.

"One thing led to another so studio time kept getting pushed back."

Fraiture's solo album, 'The Time of The Assassins', is due to be released on January 27th under his Nickel Eye pseudonym.

(by Jason Gregory)