THEY might have generated plenty of fanfare in the music press after making their return this year, but Southampton band Delays have still been beset by problems - not least lead singer Greg Gilbert's recurring throat infection.

"I think it's being on a tour bus," he says, his soft Southampton brogue sounding slightly gravelly. "Things just go round and it's pretty minging on there after a few weeks, and I got this virus. But I think I'll be all right."

The 28-year-old's recurring illness has resulted in a handful of cancelled gigs this year, much to the chagrin of some of the band's decidedly dedicated fanbase.

"It is awful cancelling because it's my call really," sighs the singer.

"I kind of want somebody to tell me what to do," he laughs. "But I think I made the right decision - if I'd done those gigs my voice would have gone for the whole tour, and we'll go back."

With another UK tour coming up, as well as festival dates throughout Europe this summer, Greg is doing all he can to take care of his voice - not least because it's such an important time for the band, who are trying to capitalise on glowing reviews in an industry which doesn't really know what to make of them.

The music press might have been positive about Delays' new material, from their recently released album You See Colours, but writers have always found it hard to pigeonhole the band, and therefore write about them.

It's been the same on radio. The likes of Radio 1 and Capital haven't playlisted them despite recent single Valentine and the forthcoming Hideaway being satisfyingly melodic guitar pop.

"I have no idea what the problem is," says Greg. "The critical response is probably the best we've had so far.

"And I genuinely don't think there is anybody else making records like ours, which is a blessing and a curse really.

"We don't wilfully make music that's completely different. It's just a case of us reacting between the four of us. The point where the four of us are all excited by what we're doing, then that's when we'll put it out. We're not deliberately trying to distance ourselves."

He might say that, but the band - also made up of Greg's brother Aaron on keyboards, Colin Fox on bass and the singularly monikered Rowly on drums - have steadfastly refused to move to London from their bolthole home of Southampton.

"London's such a powerful influence as a city that I worry about how it would direct what we were doing," explains Greg. "It seems to stamp itself on bands.

"Southamp-ton, in my mind, is a bit like the Shire from Lord Of The Rings," he laughs.

"It's got a musical anonymity to it which I think really helps to be in a band. There's no pressure to sound like Craig David (Southampton's other famous son).

"I like that what we sound like is purely because of who we are, that we're not part of a scene."

But he does admit that the band have lost out on certain advantages of being in London - better access to the music industry generally for example. It also made the recording of You See Colours more difficult as mixes of songs were constantly being sent between the two cities.

Delays are used to overcoming problems however. The reason for the long, um, delay between their 2004 debut Faded Seaside Glamour and You See Colours was Aaron's unfortunate loss of a CD, which had no back-up, containing 100 semi-formed song ideas.

"I think it focused us more," Greg says positively. "Like Nearer Than Heaven I spent about a year-and-a-half just chipping away at. But once we lost the disc I wrote songs quicker because I set myself that goal.

"I know it caused Aaron a lot of heartache, but I think he remembered the core things. It wasn't completely starting from scratch.

"But actually it's more dramatic to say he completely messed things up. Yeah, let's say that - because of Aaron we had to write a whole new album," he laughs.

Another thing Greg himself has overcome is his tendency to be reclusive, never a good thing in a frontman.

Since the band first formed back in the late 90s, going through various guises - Corky, and then Idoru before settling on Delays in 2001 - Greg has found it uncomfortable up there at the front.

When his brother joined last of all, that took the pressure off Greg. As regular viewers of Never Mind The Buzzcocks will contest Aaron is the more lively personality, and often Greg would leave it to him to be the one to play up to the crowd. Not any more.

"I'm actually enjoying poncing about on stage and losing it a bit now," he says. "It's really unhealthy man, you start to crave the reaction from people, and I'm learning more direct ways of getting a response."

"I'm getting better at it."