Nearly four decades after going their separate ways, Old Ma Cuxsom and the Soapchoppers are making music again.

Nearly 40 years after their original run through Liverpool’s mid-’80s music scene, Old Mark Cuxsom and the Soapchoppers are back, and finally making the album that never happened first time around.

Bassist Niall Lambert joined Stephen Steps Lowe on The Lunchbox to remember teenage gigs alongside the likes of The La’s, a Radio 1 session with Andy Kershaw, brushes with the future Stone Roses and the remarkable first show where an unknown Rick Astley’s band provided support.

After careers, families and several decades apart, one unexpected phone call brought the old friends back together. Their reunion eventually took them to St Lucia, where they recorded with cult producer Kramer and completed forthcoming album The Painted Bridge, due in January.

Niall explains how a nostalgic bucket-list idea unexpectedly “grew wings”, why old friendships clicked back into place almost instantly, and whether this wonderfully unlikely second chapter could yet include more recording, or even a few live shows.