Philadelphia trio the Mountain Brothers are working on the follow-up to their free-spirited debut album, Self: Volume 1, their manager said.

Amelia Moore said the disc, still untitled, could be out by early fall. She described the music as headed in the direction of the group's upcoming single, "Hostile Takeover," recorded earlier this year. That song finds group arranger/producer Chops using an eerie-sounding Hammond organ and pile-driving drums while rappers Peril-L and Styles rhyme old-school battle lyrics about hip-hop's supremacy.

"Probably, the new album will be in that direction," Moore said.

Self: Volume 1, released last spring, featured songs with laid-back grooves and horn arrangements that evoked the '70s soul of Philadelphia producers Leon Huff and Kenny Gamble.

Chops, Styles and Peril-L are of Chinese descent. The group took its name from a Chinese legend about 108 bandits who lashed out at the rich and aided the poor.

"Hostile Takeover" will be released with the Self track "Day Jobs" (RealAudio excerpt) in late April, Moore said.