According to this Louise didn't rule out working with Jon and Andy in the future, so there is a possibility of Sleeper reforming in the next few years. The split might not be permenant (just look at the Verve who split for a long time and have found greater success after reforming) and I can''t wait for Louise and Andy's new material.

There's a bit in this weeks Melody maker about Sleeper:

THE SPLIT GIRL
This week, Louise Wener tells us about Sleeper's split and her plans for the future

      Sleeper were top of the indie world in 1996 with their second album "The It Girl" and the top 10 hit singles "Sale Of The Century" and "Nice Guy Eddie".
      Lately, however, it's all gone wrong. Their 1997 album, "Pleased to Meet You", flopped, and a tour in early 1998 ended in humiliation with poor ticket sales causing several dates to be switched to venues smaller than those originally booked.
      Shortly before Christmas, Sleeper issued a statement revealing that there had been a parting of ways with their record company, RCA. The band have now split, as their former singer Louise Wener admits here for the first time.

Why did you part company with RCA?
      "I think as far as we were concerned, it had become unworkable. We were keen to go, they said, 'OK', and it was a relief. It was like getting out of an arranged marriage where you realise that you haven't got anything in common with your partner, and all their personal habits turn out to be disgusting." The sales of "Pleased To Meet You" must have been a big disappointment to all concerned.

Do you blame RCA?
      "I don't know...I think it's been a difficult year for a lot of our peers as well. There have been a lot of great records made that haven't been as successful commercially as people would have liked them to be."

But you still think it's a good album?
      "Yes, absolutely! I'd be lying if I didn't say that in some ways it has been quite a difficult year, but I feel brilliant about everything at the moment. I can't wait to get on with the stuff for next year."

So, the big question: have Sleeper split?
      "At the moment, we're not going to be doing anything together under that name. To all intents and purposes, I think we split as a band after the last tour - in our own heads, at least. We didn't want to make a big deal of it at that time, or even talk about it. Even though we've got no plans to make another Sleeper album in the near future, we didn't want to rule out the possibility of me, Jon (Stewart, Sleeper guitarist) and Andy (McClure, their drummer) working together further ahead.
      "But at the moment, Jon's living in Los Angeles with his girlfriend and playing in a band called UFO Bro, and Andy and I are working on a seperate project.
      "We're still putting it together, in terms of exactly how it's going to be presented. I haven't tied those things down now, and I haven't really got any intention of doing so, until it's all worked out."

So at the moment, you and Andy are concentrating on working on new songs, rather than worrying about what the new band's format might be?
      "Yeah! We're just massively looking forward to making records on our own terms, doing exactly what we want to do. Sometimes I think it's difficult for people to understand what a narrow environment it can be, working under a major label. It was a very restrictive atmosphere that we've been involved in for the last couple of years. It's a great feeling to be out of that."

What were you being made to do that you didn't want to do - or what were you being prevented from doing?
      "It was very difficult to move on from where we were within the confines of that company. Everyone we knew had left, and we were left in a situation where there was no one left within that company who we had any contact or rapport with."

So you didn't feel that they were behind you?
      "No. But that was all right, because we weren't behind them either! I think RCA was concentrating on it's pop market, and the things we wanted to do were more adventurous.
      "What we're working on now is something that I don't think people would expect from us."

Have you any idea when we might hear your new stuff?
      "I'd like to get something out by the summer of next year, all being well."

You're not looking for a new job, then? After all, you did some writing for us not too long ago...
      (Laughs)"No, I haven't been doing anything like that. I've just been working purley on on the musical side of things lately. Which is good, I think."

Related

The Dream Is Over!

The Big Sleep For Sleeper