"We used to go to school dressed as businessmen because we thought it was funny.

"When you're 17, there's something to be said for sitting in a pub wearing a shirt and tie."

Slightly tubby, with thickrimmed glasses and oversized tweed suits, The Young Knives are without doubt a band who've styled themselves.

"Our label definitely didn't sign us because of our looks," says bass player Thomas, aka The House of Lords. "We've always bought our clothes from charity shops. You know those natty old men who wear suits, matching pork pie hats and slip-on shoes? They're our style icons."

But do not be fooled by the Two Ronnies-esque attire. The Young Knives' music is urgent, whip-cracking disco-punk. It chronicles everyday Britain with self-deprecating humour and it rocks.

New single, She's Attracted To, is a perfect indie singalong, with huge choruses and howling lyrics.

It tells the tale of a scrutinized boyfriend, sweating under the hawkish eyes of his girlfriend's parents.

"At gigs, the whole crowd shouts the chorus, 'You were screaming at your mum, I was punching your dad' really loud,"

House says. "It's become a bit of an anthem."

As we speak, House so named because, according to the others, he is the band's grumpy second chamber, constantly vetoing their great ideas is driving to MTV2 studios to plug The Knives' debut album, Voices Of Animals And Men.

Gang Of Four's Andy Gill (The Futureheads, Red Hot Chilli Peppers) asked to produce it after hearing a demo.

"On our singles, we like to include three original B-sides to have a bit of fun and try things we wouldn't normally do, like acoustic, folky things.

"The album fits together a bit better there is more of a flow."

It was only eight months ago the band gave up their day jobs. House was working for a children's book publishing company, while the other two, Henry (vocals/guitar and House's brother) and Skewie (drums) worked in computer sales.

"Ever since I started work it had been my ambition to leave, so handing in my notice was great," House says. "I'm sure there was a certain amount of bitterness and resentment from my colleagues, but that made it sweeter.

"When our first EP came out, we were still working and would do a full day in the office, then record in the evening, then fall asleep.

"Signed to an indie label (Transgressive) we don't get a great deal of money, but we left our jobs when we worked out a deal which would give us just enough to survive on."

But the Oxford band are most definitely not moving to the capital.

"We are all anti-London. We don't want to be part of any scene. All our friends are in Oxford anyway.

"The only problem living in Oxford is people think we're intelligent: Because we wear glasses they assume we've got a lot of books.

"The fact is, I can't spell and I can't string a grammatically-correct sentence together. Don't be fooled by the glasses."