EVERYTHING was looking promising for Tall Ships in 2012.

The Brighton four-piece had just released their debut album, Everything Touching, and had been championed by BBC and NME. But then it all fell apart. The band found themselves with no management and no record label.

Frontman frontman Ric Phethean said: “We were emotionally, physically and financially spent. We needed a break to pay off debts and recover from health issues.”

But now Tall Ships have come back stronger with their follow-up record, Impressions, out on March 31, which takes its inspiration from everything that has led them to this point. They play at Deaf Institute in Manchester on Tuesday.