In an industry full of moody posturing, The Whip are a breath of fresh air. Hailed as the decade's best indie-rock dance crossover, this Manchester band have plenty to shout about.

And such is the frenzy surrounding their hook-laden blend of hard beats, fuzzy bass lines and euphoric melodies, they could be excused for cultivating a bit of an image, or, heaven forbid, a moody air of aloofness.

Only they won't have any of it. Bluff, plain speaking Northerners, they simply refuse to play along with the rockstar game.

"I'm not into attitude," says frontman Bruce Carter.

"It's all been done before, and is a rubbish way of making yourself look like a tough guy.

"For one thing, we just wouldn't get away with it!"

Bruce is one of the nicest, most genuine blokes in rock. He also speaks for most music lovers in his disdain of the posturing skinny wannabe rockstar.

"We are down to earth," he says.

"We feel we are on a level field with the audience. It's about having a good time at gigs and forgetting the bad things that happen.

"We are all in it together. That's why we man the T-shirt stand - to meet the fans and have a laugh!"

Bruce is lounging around at home in Manchester, "recovering" he says in the middle of the band's European tour.

And their combination of electronica, techno, dance and out-and-out rock is going down remarkably well. Not only over here, but around the world - particularly in France, where they were signed by the ultra-hip Kitsune label. And, he admits, they are also big in Japan.

"It gets hectic," he grins. "The best thing about being in a band is the travelling. Though, I can't say we've seen much.

"We get in, sound check, do a couple of interviews, play the gig and go. We don't get a chance to take it all in.

"Japan was great though. It's crazy! The fans give you gifts - and it's not just the kids either."

And, he says, he has kept every present, which he has arranged on display.

"I've got a Japanese shrine upstairs ... It's nice to look at and remind us of the place."

So why are they such a big hit in the Land of the Rising Sun? "They like being pummelled hard and fast," he says.

"Our music mixes up all sorts of things and fits in with their culture."

Surely that must be an ego boost - even to a band as self-effacing as The Whip? Bruce laughs again. "I don't take it seriously," he sniggers. "It's just the nature of the beast."

The band, whose debut album X Marks Destination, came out on Southern Fried in March, are also plugging new single Trash. And they have chosen one of Oxford's's best and most intimate venues in which to do so - The Jericho Tavern.

For Bruce, and bandmate Danny, it's a case of second time lucky.

The duo first had a stab at the industry with previous incarnation Nylon Pylon. The memories are not altogether fond.

"We were stuck in the studio for a year," he says, "but the album didn't sound anything like the band we were. It was massively over-produced. So we split up.

"But we learned from it, and got on with it. Things now are good. We look forward to touring ... and having a laugh! We haven't got any time off until the end of August, but we will keep tumbling along. It's a case of not being an idiot and keeping your feet on the ground.

"When we try and say something pretentious we just get laughed at anyway!"

The Whip play the Jericho Tavern on Monday, with support from Grand Central Live.

Tickets are £7 in advance. Doors open at 8pm.