For anyone who has seen the band live, it's a fair comment to say that Joe is very active as a frontman. Though he dismisses the idea that, because he doesn't play an instrument he puts himself under additional pressure to succeed. If that is such the case, then is it because he loves to get the attention?

"Not as much for the attention. I've got a clear idea of what the band is and what my role is. Language is an extremely important part of the band. We're preoccupied with it really. I can't see my roll in the band as anything else but the communicator of the words. Language I see as vital, so no I don't think about playing the guitar. These songs are about expression and therefore you can't be too ice cold."

The songs are far from unemotional. Joe nods his head repeatedly in agreement.

"What we wanted was a contrast. The kind of ice-cold mathematics drum loops, drum machines with synth sounds. Contrast that with Laura who puts a guitar round her neck and plays it as if her death depends on it, or me who tries to sing or believe in the lyrics. So it's all about a contest between utter humanity and utter inhumanity. It was meant to be the sound of nature and culture mating, whether it is or not I don't know. Probably not, It's just a selection of charming pop songs."

Influences can be drawn from a variety of sources. Joe admits that he's always been had a keen interest on the works by the author John Banville.

"I've been banging on about John for ages. It just so happens that his book 'The Sea' won the Booker price the other week. I had a tenner on it at 7/1," he says smiling.

Then of course there's Manchester, where the band is based. >>