Having been confirmed just this week for the 2009 Big Day Out tour, it’s exciting to consider that Australia may be amongst the first countries in the world to hear Simian Mobile Disco’s freshest music, with the duo revealing they’re already halfway through completing their second album.

The Big Day Out will be James Ford and Jes Shaw’s first live tour of Australia as Simian Mobile Disco, and it follows their stunning 2007 debut album Attack Decay Sustain Release, widely lauded by both critics and music fans. The album spawned several tracks that proved to be club hits, including Hustler, It’s The Beat and Sleep Deprivation.

Speaking with NME, Ford revealed they’ve invited several guests to provide vocals on their forthcoming sophomore album, which is currently planned for release early in 2009. The guests include the Gossip’s larger-than-life frontwoman Beth Ditto and Gruff Rhys of the Super Furry Animals/Neon Neon.

“The song [Ditto sings on] is not very Gossip-y. It’s more electronic and poppy, a bit old-school,” Ford told NME. “The song Gruff sings on is more psychedelic, with a Todd Rundgren-esque edge.”