Carl Barat 'completes debut solo record'

Carl Barat has revealed that he recently completed work on his debut solo album.

Discussing the forthcoming release, his first since the demise of his previous band The Dirty Pretty Things, Barat admitted that the new songs may come as a surprise to some fans.

"It's a bit different. It's a bit older - like myself really," he told Newsbeat of the as-yet-untitled record. "It's kind of naked, kind of stripped down. It's more piano-based.

"It's definitely different from The Libertines. It's different from anything I've done before. It's more me."

Barat is expected to release the album later this year.

> Carl Barat: 'I prefer performing solo'