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In fact, crowds of up to 17,000 have since seen the band play in Europe , Australia , South Africa , Asia , even America where fans who had only heard Kosheen via Napster knew all the lyrics before anything had ever officially been played there. The LA Times went so far as to proclaim the band one of four hot new electronica acts to watch for. In summer 2001, Kosheen further cemented their reputation as a world-class live act by performing to a 20,000-strong crowd in Serbia , the first international band to do so since the trouble in the Balkans.

"On the plane on the way over there we were all looking at each other going why the fuck are we going to Yugoslavia ?" Markee grins. "We didn't have a clue what to expect. And suddenly there was 20,000 people all singing catch back at us. Me and Sian just looked at each other on stage as if to say, fucking hell! What's going on?!"

Inevitably while on tour, Kosheen turned their attention to their second album. Enthused by the incredible reception they had received live, they began writing songs with that in mind, tracks they knew would sound great on stage. The resulting record - now named 'Kokopelli' after the North American Indian symbol of fertility, individuality and music - is a hypnotic, intimate collection of songs from the soul. The divide between Sian 's folk upbringing and Darren and Markee's electronica background is less pronounced while influences including The Pretenders, The Cure, Kate Bush and Radiohead all resonate.

"I think it's harder and darker than the last album," Darren reckons, "and a lot more personal too. There are more guitars in there too but it's not your standard rock album. We've taken elements of rock and all different types of music which we enjoy and fused it all together to come up with something slightly different. I don't ever want people to expect anything from us."

Crucially, while the music sounds darker and more apocalyptic, Sian 's lyrics have grown more personal, as she reveals herself to us track by track. While the bleak 'Recovery' tells of a feeling of not fitting in, coupled with excess of drugs or alcohol, 'All In My Head' is the ultimate long distance love song, inspired by a phone conversation between Sian and her own partner and describing the lover who may be physically distant but can always be present in your mind. 'Coming Home', meanwhile, is a beautiful, yearning wish to be back with those you love.

"I wrote it a long time ago but it became more poignant with touring. It's that idea of get the kettle on and the bed warmed up, I'm coming home! Just that lovely feeling of going back home to the arms of your lovers or your kids. That feeling, for us, of hitting the M32!"

For now, though, Kosheen are ready to hit that motorway again and bring their new studio sound to the live stage, the place where they have truly proved they are a band without limits.

"I feel like we're a band that's different to anything else out there," Markee states determinedly. "We can stand up and do a tune like any other rock band. But we can also go to a club and smash it up there as well. We want to be able to do that in all areas. It's just being greedy really!"

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