A formula one pop act

You might have expected Girls Aloud to limber up for their forthcoming third album with a few sessions in the company of their voice coaches and stylists. They did, after all, come together on a reality TV show, the ultimate in manufactured pop.

But, always keen to confound expectations, the female five-piece prepared for Monday's release of Chemistry by going on the road for their first UK tour. It was an eye-opening experience - and one which had a major effect on their new record.

'I couldn't believe some of the faces in our audience,' says band member Nicola Roberts. 'There were punks in the front row and gangs of 15-year- old lads at the back. A lot of our younger fans were there with their parents, and they seemed to enjoy it, too.'

'We were together for a long period and worked hard on stage,' adds Kimberley Walsh. 'By the time we got into the studio in the summer to make the album, our confidence was sky-high.'

Girls Aloud are Britain's most effervescent vocal act. Written off as one-hit-wonders after winning Pop Stars: The Rivals and topping the charts with their 2002 debut single, Sound Of The Underground, they have overcome personal problems - most notably Cheryl Tweedy's conviction for assault - and the overall decline of prefab pop to become worthy successors to The Spice Girls.

Along with McFly, the Sugababes and Westlife, they remain survivors of the bubblegum pop boom which dominated the UK charts in the late Nineties.

'A lot of pop acts make a big splash with their first album and then fade away,' says Cheryl. 'We've done things the other way round. Our albums have got better. If we weren't here, people would be crying out for a group like us.'

'There's no point in trying to stir up rivalries between us and the Sugababes, either,' says Kimberley. 'It's nice to have at least one other group working in the same area. There's enough room for both of us, and I respect the Sugababes for sticking around for so long.'

As an album, Chemistry builds on the distinctive sound of 2004's What Will The Neighbours Say?, avoiding American-influenced R&B in favour of brash British beats. Written and produced, like its predecessors, by the Xenomania team (Brian Higgins and Miranda Cooper), it combines a hint of edginess with big, radio-friendly hooks.

Lyrically, too, it pulls few punches. Racey Lacey lampoons promiscuous females, Models targets love rats, and Swinging London Town toys with the girls' reputation for partying a little too heartily. But despite all of this, the quintet (sipping nothing stronger than cups of tea as we chat) maintain that they are good role models.