Listen to Crocodiles’ 2009 debut and their latest album back-to-back and it’s hard to believe they come from the same band.

The band’s calling card Summer Of Hate was an energised expression of fury and frustration – packed with songs such as I Wanna Kill and the feedback-laden Refuse Angels, with only rare let-ups of Jesus And Mary Chain-style noise experimentation as on Flash Of Light.

Their fourth album Crimes Of Passion is a much happier beast, with genuine pop melodies and a playfully erotic thread running underneath songs like I Like It In The Dark and Marquis De Sade.

The feedback and lo-fi feel are still there – unsurprising seeing as The Raveonettes’ Sune Rose Wagner is in the production chair – but the touchstones are much more towards 1980s UK jangly indie and the US classic rock of The Byrds, as well as a touch of Lou Reed glamour.

The more laidback theme is underlined by the front and back covers, which see Crocodiles founders, songwriters and long-time buddies Charles Rowell and Brandon Welchez donning drag.

“It’s more of our personality coming out,” says Rowell. “It follows a line of other acts like The Rolling Stones on the Mother’s Little Helper single. It’s gritty glamour, treading that line between prettiness and ugliness.”

The pair have enjoyed a prolific few years, starting from Summer Of Hate being picked up by many influential critics and blogs on its initial release.

Rowell sees each album as documenting the experiences of the previous year.

“Summer Of Hate was definitely us when we weren’t happy,” he says – something which was well-documented at the time with the pair attacking their upbringing in Poway, San Diego, “surrounded by racists and homophobes and rednecks”.

“It was what got us motivated. It’s a contrast to now – we live in two exciting cities [New York and London], we’re having a good time.

“We’re treating this album as a back-to-basics, do-it-for-the-love-of-it type album. Rather than focusing on how difficult it has been at times or how frustrating life was, this is more a celebration of beauty and opportunites.

“We’ve got a little bit more satisfaction out of each record, and have experienced a little bit more popularity – we like the way it’s been going.

“Who knows, if we had signed to Columbia with Summer Of Hate we would be in a different spot, we might not even be together or happy!”

Although Crocodiles’ live band is augmented by a drummer, bassist and keyboard player, the central creative force of the band is still Rowell and Welchez.

They were happy to bring Wagner into the party though, having first mooted him as a potential producer for the follow-up to their debut, Sleep Forever. “We were relaxed enough to let someone come into our world,” says Rowell. “We have got a system now where we demo songs together in New York and then get the instrumentation nailed down.

“With this one we sent them to Sune, who gave us ideas and feedback. We went to LA with him and the band before we recorded them in Berlin.

“He was able to help us craft something that will last forever. We stick by this record – if you’re into pop music or guitar music it will stand out.”

He admits the pair are already talking about ideas for a fifth album, suggesting the well is by no means dry.

“We are enjoying the freedom we have with our own label,” says Rowell. “When you first start travelling and being in a band and you get your first bit of attention it scares you into believing what people say. It’s easy to work against yourself. We’re not doing that anymore – we’re in for the long haul.”

As the pair’s interest and sound develops Rowell admits their live shows are changing too, with old songs being reworked to fit with the positivity of Crimes Of Passion.

“We want to be making records forever,” he says. “We’ve both got big record collections and love reading, so there are lots of ideas out there.

“We’ve been playing music together for 12 or 13 years now and been all over the world together, we’re on the same wavelength.

“We’re like an old married couple – we finish each other’s sentences, musically speaking! We don’t have to worry too much about getting proper jobs – we have the freedom to develop and do what we want to do.

“If we want to do an Afrobeat album we can, because we work so well together.”