"I'd rather have a lot of passionate people enjoying our music than a million watching us as after-dinner performers," says Colin Fox. "We want people to really hear the music and be truly affected by it."

The Delays bassist's tangible passion perfectly reflects the romantic yearnings of the band. Debut album Faded Seaside Glamour bounced into the spotlight two years ago, offering dreamy slices of trippy flower pop given a striking beauty by singer Greg Gilbert's voice.

Soaring androgynously around fluttering melodies, his vocals remain as rare and fragile on new album You See Colours as the frontman himself. "I find it really difficult being around people," Gilbert admits, having seen his bandmates devour Europe and America while he hid in hotel rooms and tour buses. "I'd never go out if it wasn't for touring."

Fox, though, is relieved to be on the road again. "It's just so refreshing," he says, enthralled by a "real moment" at a gig the previous night. "People were jumping around, and we barely needed to sing the lyrics. You forget how good it is."

It was the new LP, rather than rumours of tensions and record company disquiet, which caused a lengthy absence and spate of gig cancellations last year.

"We've been making a record, as it turns out," quips Fox. "My main thing this time was not to turn into a b****** again," adds Gilbert, whose controlling tendencies were tempered by the "absolute faith" now shared between the bandmates.

You See Colours provides several dramatic evolutions of their sound, noticeably in the disco beats of single Valentine. "People thought we were mucking around when we hinted at that on the first album," says Fox, exhibiting an air of defiance.

The band intends the title to be taken literally. "Music is so much more intoxicating when you've got powerful imagery," insists Fox, furthering comparisons with The Stone Roses, a band he admits it would have been "impossible" for Delays to exist without. "I want the whole package to make people feel like they're in a bubble for 45 minutes when they listen to us."

Starts at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £10, call 01273 673311.