The New York band Interpol is known for its visual appeal -- snazzy black suits on the band members; beautiful, stark album artwork; cutting-edge videos.

But with the release of their second album, Antics, the band has entered a whole new grey area where music meets art meets marketing.

It's called the Interpol Space, it's kind of a gallery/fan clubhouse/merchandise boutique, and it exists in several cities, including New York, London and Los Angeles (but sadly, not Toronto).

"Rather than having a big billboard that says, 'New Interpol Album!,' we thought it'd be cool to have a gallery with Interpol-inspired things inside," explains guitarist Daniel Kessler. "We commissioned 10 short films -- everything from animation to documentary to drama, all using a portion of the song Not Even Jail from the new record -- and we're showing the films there."

Then the band -- which also includes singer Paul Banks, bassist Carlos D. and drummer Sam Fogarino -- got involved with Shepard Fairey, a street artist turned youth marketing specialist, to further blur the lines.

"We knew he liked us, and we really liked his work, so he did paintings of the band members that are featured at the space," adds Kessler. "And there's also limited-edition merchandise, such as seven-inch singles and stuff. We thought it'd be a cool idea, and an interesting way of having people discover Interpol."

With Antics, the band is pushing its audio envelope as well. It's the perfect followup to their debut, Turn On The Bright Lights, which unexpectedly sold half a million copies and established them at the head of the nouveau Joy Division movement. Antics' sound is pristine, meticulous and big -- the opposite of the loose-limbed punk rock of many of their New York peers, and a step up from Bright Lights.

"I think it does have a bigger sound," says Kessler. "It still sounds like Interpol, but it's a little more expansive. On the first record, the goal was just to capture the band playing the songs live. This time we wanted it to be a little more textured and layered."

They must be tired of the Joy Division comparisons by now, but for a bunch of New Yorkers, Interpol sound remarkably English. It turns out that there's a reason for that, though. "Well, I lived in Europe until I was 11, and Paul was born in England," says Kessler. "He doesn't have a typical American voice, but I don't see our music as any nationality, really -- it's just melodic and atmospheric."

Interpol bring the atmosphere to the Docks tomorrow, with Secret Machines opening.