The Irish group U2 has decided to delay the publication of his next album, which was scheduled for this autumn, until early 2009, while the band continues writing and recording new material, reported the band in its official Internet page.

“I thought we were going to have the album ready now, but why publish it now if there is still invaluable material to be discovered?” Writes Bono, the leader of the group, U2.com.

So far, the Irish quartet has been recorded in southern France, Fez (Morocco) and Dublin (Ireland) with his usual collaborators Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois and Steve Lillywhite.

“We know that we must emerge soon, but we also know that people do not want another disc of U2 unless our best work to date,” Bono added. “There must be more innovative, more challenging.”

Bono also says that the group now has 50 or 60 songs that include believed to be in the continuation of How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, his latest work, 2004.

“Right now we seek a transition similar to what happened between The Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby,” Bono added. “We wish that 2009 is our year.”