Robbie Williams has teamed up with Blockheads star Chaz Jankel to write new material.
The 'Angels' singer - who claims he is currently on strike from his record company EMI - has been working on a host of new songs but the best are said to be the ones he has done with Jankel, who was behind the 1978 hit 'Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick' along with the late Blockheads' frontman Ian Dury.
A source said: "Robbie and Chaz have been working on some great stuff. It's back to Robbie's funky best. Out of all his new tunes the Chaz stuff is the best."
However, Robbie is struggling to make a shortlist of potential album tracks because he has worked with several people in recent months, including Guy Chambers - the mastermind behind Robbie's biggest hits including 'Angels'.
The source added to Britain's The Sun newspaper: "Currently Robbie's problem is that he's worked on tunes with various people. It all sounds very different so it doesn't really sit well as an album.
"And the big reunion with Guy was a real let-down. They just couldn't reignite that spark." Robbie was a good friend and huge fan of Dury's and attended his funeral in 2000. He has also performed on occasions with the remaining Blockheads since Dury died from cancer.
Robbie recently insisted he has no plans to release a new album this year. He said: "There might not be a proper album out this year and there definitely won't be a tour any time soon. F**k that, the last one nearly killed me. "There will be some kind of something this year. I might just put B-sides to the next album out first online. Then put an album out in 2009. Which means you won't be seeing me on stage for a while. Sorry folks."
