Hot Press can exclusively reveal that The Frames are readying a live album.

Compiled from their sell-out Vicar St. shows last November, it's due to hit the racks in April and will doubtless sell like hot Mr. Kiplings.

This will be the Frames' second live album, following on from 2002's limited-release Breadcrumb Trail, a collection of performances culled from their extensive tour of the Czech Republic.

As for band's new studio set, that's likely to be completed in mid-March when they return from two weeks of gigs in the States.

Says a spokesman: "That's the deadline they're setting themselves at the moment, but as always with The Frames, things could change. Release-wise, we're talking early autumn."