New Order frontman Bernard Sumner has hinted that the band could record new material this year.

In an interview with XFM, Sumner revealed that although he and his bandmates were focused on their forthcoming UK live tour, they hadn’t ruled out the possibility of hitting the studio to work on new songs.

“Not even thinking about [writing and recording] at the moment because our heads are really on playing live,” he said. “It really is one day at a time – or one year at a time – and this year is playing live.”

However, he then went on to add: “Let’s see [about working on new material]. Hopefully there’ll be some recorded music as well.”

Earlier this week, New Order announced details of a four-date tour of the UK to take place this April. The band reformed in late 2011 but without founding member and bass player Peter Hook – instead, keyboard player Gillian Gilbert, who hadn’t performed with the band for over 10 years, rejoined and bass duties were taken up by Tom Chapman, who was part of Sumner’s recent project Bad Lieutenant.

Although the band have made it clear that they have every intention of continuing to perform under the name New Order, Peter Hook revealed to NME last week that he has instigated legal proceedings against his former bandmates to stop them doing so.

He told NME of his situation with the band: “It’s in the hands of the lawyers. The point is that they shouldn’t be using the New Order name without me and it’s up to the lawyers.”

New Order will play:

O2 Apollo Manchester (April 26)

O2 Academy Glasgow (5)