Scottish rock combo Franz Ferdinand previewed a handful of new songs from its forthcoming album to a packed house at Brooklyn's Music Hall of Williamsburg last night (Oct. 8). Frontman Alex Kapranos said the band has finished work last week on the project, dubbed "Tonight," and will release it in January via Epic.

The new material finds Franz Ferdinand taking its arty post-punk in a new direction, supplementing spiky guitar jams with funked-out basslines and R&B-like breakdowns. Among the new cuts were the jaunty, keyboard-driven "Ride Together," "Ulysses," a rocker that kicks off with gritty guitars, and a warped keyboard-backed dance pop number.

Crowd favorites from the band's 2004 self-titled debut like "Michael," the buzzing dance track "Tell Her Tonight" and breakout single "Take Me Out" were peppered in along with hits from 2005's follow-up "You Could Have it So Much Better," such as "The Fallen" and "Outsiders," which ended with all four band members banging on the drum kit.

One night earlier, the band played the same venue as part of the Barack Obama fundraiser Barack Rock, alongside Guster, Les Savy Fav and Andrew Bird, among others.

Franz Ferdinand begins a short European tour Nov. 13 in Paris.