Erasure's musical powerhouse, Vince Clarke, is a happy man. The waves of contentment virtually ooze down the transatlantic phone line from his home on the beautiful coast of the US state of Maine where he lives with his American wife, Tracy, and their 18-month old son, Oscar.

They have a house by a river just outside the cosy community of Damariscotta, surrounded by trees and mountains and welcoming neighbours.

And it seems the founding father of seminal bands such as Depeche Mode and Yazoo absolutely loves his American life - with one small exception.
He says: "Yeah, I'm happy here – but I miss my bacon sandwiches. You can't get a decent bacon sandwich for love nor money."

"The moment we moved in, people were round, introducing themselves. Lots of people come here for vacation and for relaxation so I think there is that real calm vibe all around."

Fatherhood clearly suits Vince and his voice brightens when he mentions his little son: "He's 18 months old. It's great.

"It was really tough in the beginning. This is my first child and it was a huge shock. But now he's his own little man, he's walking and talking and discovering the world.

"Even just to go out in the garden and look at bugs, it's really exciting. I look forward to going to the toy shop more than he does.

"My wife's going, 'But that's for five plus,' and I'm going, 'No, that's all right, he'll learn that,' and there's all this radio-controlled stuff in the house!"

He's so happy he didn't want to leave to work on Erasure's new album, their 16th, – entitled the Light at the End of the World.

So vocalist Andy Bell, newly emerged from a relationship of almost 20 years and embarking on a new love, flew to him.

They wrote and recorded with producer Gareth Jones – who has worked with Depeche Mode, Wire, Clinic and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – in the city of Portland, a few miles from Vince's rural idyll.

The result was one of their most heartfelt and mature works to date, despite its cutting edge feel. Vince says: "I think that's a little bit down to the technology that we were using.

"My main studio is in the UK so all my stuff's there so, this time round, all the music was produced on a computer.

"For this record, both myself and Andy were in very good headspaces so hopefully some of that optimism and forward-looking-ness comes across. He is up and down but he is in a new relationship and he's very happy."

The lyrics are some of their most intense ever. Vince says: "Andy doesn't usually write in the first person.

"But the producer said, "Well, this is all stuff about you, so why not really say it as it is?' – and he was brave enough to do that. They are very personal lyrics. I'm not sure I would do that. It's like naming names!"

Their songwriting process is very particular – the pair set aside a time, go into a studio and emerge some hours later, usually with something concrete.

Vince says: "We've never had an argument in all the years we've known each other. Andy's a very laid back person and I think that some of that has rubbed off on me over the years."

He's finally being dragged away from home for this tour which reaches Preston Guild Hall this week. Some may remember the last time they visited this city on 2005's Nightbird Tour – with fantastical woodland scenery, spectacular lighting and Bell dressed as a angel.

Apparently, this time, it's even better. Vince laughs: "It's a kind of a 1970s quiz show look with video screens and diamonds hanging from the ceiling and everyone wearing various wigs.

"We've always tried to make the shows interesting just because there is no guitarist leaping around the stage. We are not visual in that respect. I think we've tried to make up for that."

Erasure play Preston's Guild Hall on Wednesday, September 12. Tickets, priced at £25, are available from the box office on 01772 258858.