"I remember our old A&R man didn't like the title Dog Roses. He was trying to tell me what to do with song titles. I walked out of there thinking 'what a ****'. That was kind of the beginning of the end for us."

It's hard to imagine Duke Spirit singer Leila Moss's irrepressible confidence being compromised by anyone. Not your average band dumped by a major label, The Duke Spirit turned down Polydor's wishy-washy attempts to extend their deal, favouring artistic freedom over potential riches.

Their feistiness has been rewarded with reviews certain to make former bosses wish they had unleashed second album Neptune. Recorded in the Californian desert after a year breaking limbs, having all their gear stolen and playing hundreds of gigs in America, the follow-up to their 2005 debut is loaded with exquisitely dark lyrics and the sort of passionate rock and roll with which Sonic Youth and Pixies inspired generations.

"We all took a proper leap of faith and I think it was a really good thing to do. I'm really proud that we weren't chickens about it. I'm still like '****, I've got a lot to do' - I've got so much more to do, I feel like I've just started."

Their homecomings have invariably been hijacked by stadium bands whisking the five-piece off on tour, including a date with REM at The Royal Albert Hall a couple of weeks ago and jaunts with Kasabian. "Their fans were great," retorts Moss to the suggestion that a cock-rock crowd might not have fully appreciated the sultry hiss of her lovelorn pleas for rebirth.

"It was amazing for our families to think that their kids had got to The Royal Albert Hall. For me it was way more important that our songs got out onto a beautiful stage like that than whether the audience were out of their chairs. Meeting REM was great - really sincere, lovely people. Just rising to the occasion and not being out of your depth and getting in the way, I think that's what it's about."