SPARKS MUST FLY!

When he does arrive, he dashes in, full of apologies and promises to talk really quickly to make up for lost time.

Normally, the punctuality, or lack thereof, of a singer in a widely acclaimed band, can be put down to the fact that they are, indeed, a singer in a widely acclaimed band. It goes with the territory, being a bit late.

Badwan, however, has a more practical reason. He and musician girlfriend Rachel Zeffira - with whom he writes and records as duo Cat's Eyes - have moved house, and he lost track of time unpacking boxes.

"We're putting our studio back together," he says. "I've had worse house moves, but it's really important to get the studio back up - it's where we spend so much of our time."

The band he fronts, The Horrors, are going on tour later this month. Since their fourth album, Luminous, was released in May, they've performed at festivals all over Europe.

"We're not rehearsing as such," says Kent-born Badwan, 27, "but concentrating our efforts on the production.

"It looks pretty cool at the moment and we are trying new things, which is good. The last time we toured, for Skying [their third album, released in 2011], some people said our light show made them feel sick, so we're not sure what to do now."

Since forming in 2005, the band began playing gigs whenever they could, sometimes five in a week. By the time their debut, Strange House, was released in 2007, their slightly wonky brand of gothic garage was the most talked-about music in the country.

But it wasn't for everyone and by the time second album, Primary Colours, came about two years later, the leap in their songwriting and performance skills was clear for all to see.

A similar step forward was made with Skying, which brought Eighties synth-pop to the party.

"I don't think it's been the sea of change that some people would like to believe," he says.

"It's just exploring and discovery. I'm not frustrated about it, it is what it is. I mean, look, half the population think the Royal family are lizards, so I think we get off lightly in the grand scale of misconceptions.

"You can't have a clear idea of what you're doing with your music, because you're in it and involved, so to an extent, you do rely on other people's opinions."

They also pay attention to crowd reaction when they are touring. Despite the grand, giant scale of their more recent recordings, Badwan says their songs were always written with the express intention of playing them live in front of people.

"The songs go down their own path and you have no control," he says. "For us, it's always been capturing that spark of spontaneity, it's essential for what makes our songs work. Sea Within A Sea, from our second album, is so different when we play it now from the recording, it's almost a new song.

"But that's what's exciting, and one of the best things about being in this band."

This leads to talk of ambition, and whether there's a link between the band's more polished sound and a desire to be much bigger. Of course, as they've gone on, they've become better songwriters and players, as well as more accustomed to each other's styles, but is there something more going on?

"I don't know about that," he says. "I think there's a cliche of bands being scared of talking about ambition, and there's the opposite cliche where a band comes along and says, 'We're not afraid of selling records', or whatever. That's equally annoying, that it's somehow refreshing to be capitalist about the whole thing.

"We are ambitious, but we've ever been willing to compromise to get there, it just doesn't work. It's hard enough to finish a record as it is, so trying to make it to please someone else, would make it impossible."

Away from The Horrors, Badwan paints and sketches and is planning another exhibition of his work.

He and Zeffira have just completed what will be their second album, and the soundtrack to Peter Strickland's forthcoming film The Beginning Of Spring.

"Hopefully next year will be a big year," he says. "There are lots of things that I've been working on for a while that are coming to a head. I lost a sketchbook in a cab recently, so that set me back a bit, but I've been painting outside of that."

There may well be another Horrors album next year, just as soon as they play the rescheduled European and American tour dates they had to postpone this year.

He thinks bands need to move more quickly than ever before, and their next album will involve trying a new set-up.

"Whenever you get too comfortable, you should flip things and turn them upside down," says Badwan. "It's time for us to turn things on their head."

l The Horrors released their fourth album Luminous earlier this year. They play Glasgow O2 ABC on September 26