Julian Casablancas, poised to release his first solo album 'Phrazes for the Young', has let slip what the forthcoming Strokes LP will sound like – a collision between 70s hard rock band Thin Lizzy and Nordic popsters A-Ha.

The band's singer told XFM in the UK: "I'm looking forward to it. We worked on it for months, we have most of the songs written, more than half of them written. But it's just a question of getting all five dudes in the room. I'm ready to do it. We're supposed to have done it already but it got pushed back."

That Phil Linnott/Morton Harket crossover meanwhile, hasn't yet been cooked up in a studio -- Casablancas told the radio station it was his idea of what the band should sound like album number four.

"I have my own personal wish that it would sound like Thin Lizzy, but if they could peer into the future and kind of have eighties melodies. Like a super-tight late seventies rock band but with A-Ha moments, if that makes sense," he said.

But Casablanacas also warned that just because he had a strong idea as to what the album should sound like didn't mean it was going to happen...

"The Strokes is a tough musical jury," he explained, "so if something is going to survive it's got to pretty much please five incredibly picky dudes."

In other Strokes news, bass player Nikolai Fraiture has announced he is taking part in this year's New York Marathon – and is asking fans to sponsor his charity run. They have until Friday (Oct. 16) to sign up.

"I will be helping raise the funds needed to support youth fitness, goal-setting and nutrition programs throughout America and Africa while fulfilling, as a New Yorker, a life-long dream of running the marathon," he said.

Strokes fans with deep pockets can get more details at the band's website.