Electronica musician, producer and songwriter WILLIAM ORBIT has announced he is on board to produce the upcoming QUEEN album derived from archive tapes.

ORBIT broke the news via Twitter, saying "Am definitely working with QUEEN. Amazing songs. That's all I'm sayin 4 now. Watch this space."

Tentatively titled Queen Forever, the album features previously unheard recordings from the QUEEN archive with Freddie Mercury on lead and, in one and possibly up to three cases, in duets with Michael Jackson. The album is expected before Christmas.

This is the second time that QUEEN has plumped the archives for "new" material with Mercury, the first being 1995's Made in Heaven.

Brian May and Roger Taylor currently have the band on the road with Adam Lambert out front.

ORBIT's career dates back to the early-80's with the group Torch Song and has released eight solo albums. As a producer and writer, he has worked with Madonna, Blur, Pink, Robbie Williams, Beth Orton, Katie Meula and many others.