AFTER spending much of 2015 touring the world with Eric Clapton you could perhaps forgive Paul Carrack for taking things easy for a while, writes John Anson.

But the singer responsible for classics such as How Long? and The Living Years doesn’t work like that. Instead he’s just released a new album – Soul Shadows – and is currently in the middle of a 34-date UK tour, which calls in at Preston Guild Hall on Saturday, March 12 (7.30pm).

“Everyone in the band is into it and it’s all going pretty well,” said the Sheffield-born singer who also provided the vocals for the Squeeze favourite Tempted, and was dubbed by the BBC as 'The Man with the Golden Voice.'

The new show will feature mixture of songs from Paul’s extensive back catalogue plus some from the new album.

“I’m always very conscious of the need to strike a balance between new material and songs people know and expect to hear,” he said. “But you have to keep things fresh too, both for the audience and for us on stage.

“But I have to say, the new stuff is going down a storm.

“Also when you take new material out on the road you know that it will get better as you go along. There is room for the songs to expand on stage and audiences love to hear extended versions of a song.”

Rather than being in need of a rest after being part of Eric Clapton’s world tour, Paul admits that the experience left him feeling upbeat and eager to record again.

“I have been making an album almost every year for a while,” he said, “but last year I was totally immersed in Eric’s tour.

“I don’t really write when I’m on the road. I might jot down a few nuggets on a plane but that’s as far as it goes.

“But when the tour ended I was just feeling very confident. I’ve got an improved home studio and was able to take advantage of that.

“I started with a blank sheet of paper and when I’m writing I don’t like to force the issue but knowing I had an album to get ready I was fairly disciplined.”

The former Ace, Squeeze and Mike and The Mechanics frontman, whose uniquely soulful voice has won him millions of fans around the world, worked on the album in his home studio with son Jack.

“I’d thrown around a few ideas with Jack and gradually we’d build up the songs in the studio,” he said.

With Paul often laying down the bassline as well as guitar parts and keyboards for the songs, it’s something his band have had to get used to when it comes to taking songs on the road.

“Oh it drives the band mad,” he laughed. “I’m not a bass player but I know the sounds that I want to hear but the guys will say ‘that’s not how you play it’.”

However it came about Soul Shadows clearly work being made album of the week on Radio 2.

“The fans seem to be loving it which is all that matters,” said Paul.

Preston Guild Hall box office 01772-804444.