"It took us quite a while to write the album, so we went through lots of different phases," says The Whip's vocalist/guitarist Bruce Carter. "We don't really like making two songs which sound the same. At the moment we're trying not
to retread our steps."
The resulting record, X Marks Destination, feels like it could
be the work of three different bands, from the straight-up electro of Divebomb to the dark locked grooves of Trash and the New Order stylings of Frustration.
If there's a single theme which binds the tracks together, it's that their build-ups and breakdowns seem tailor-made for the live arena.
"The crowds are really picking up on the peaks and troughs now. People do coo along in Sister Siam," he laughs. "Which is a good thing, because the more gigs we're playing, the worse off my voice
is getting. If it gets any worse,
I might have to go in for some
of that really cheesy, hold the
mic out to the crowd stuff."
After releases on the Kitsune and Lavolta labels, the Manchester four-piece have now signed to Norman Cook's Southern Fried imprint.
"We had a nice drink with Norman on the beach in Brighton. We had olives and humous. They're a great bunch of guys and we've partied hard with all of them."
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The group decided to shun
major label interest after their experiences of Bruce and keyboard player Danny Saville in their previous band, pioneering
indie-electro outfit Nylon Pylon.
"We signed to a big label and they sent us off to this huge studio in the countryside with loads of food. We put on weight and came out with a terrible album. But we weren't bitter about it. Danny and I just holed up in this grotty cellar in Salford and started writing songs again."
Things have been going much better this time around, with encouraging sales, a burgeoning remix and DJ career, overseas success and the occasional megastar fan.
"We were playing the SXSW Festival in Texas and Michael Stipe from REM. was in the crowd.
We thought at first he must have been there to check out one of the other bands but he was there again the following night," says Bruce.
"We found out later he'd been hanging around outside the gig, but we'd been getting drunk backstage.
"Things are going well in Japan as well. We went twice last year. It's mad out there. The fans give you crazy presents all the time.
I've got a little shrine upstairs
made out of the gifts."
Despite the international
acclaim, the boys still have a soft spot for Brighton.
"We always have a good time when we come down to Brighton. We actually stayed a week down here between tours. There's a bloody good cookie shop. It's in one of the little arcades. They do a lethal cookie milkshake combo."
First act on at 7.15pm. The Whip on stage at 10pm. Visit www.escapegreat.com.
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