"I was quite a late-comer to Moodyman's music. I didn't really hear it when it was new to other people. Joe recommended Mahogany Brown to me. When I was in Germany on tour I brought a white label that had the track 'Pray 4 Love' on it that's on the Picture This album. I just fell in love with the sound - the Fender Rhodes and that kind of swung, half-time rhythm that is quite slow to this sort of disco groove, and it keeps going back and forth between those two rhythms, and being quite natural in the way that it does it. It suggests that it's going to explode into something, and then it just drops down into half-speed. It's a very teasing record in the same way that 'Shades Of Jae' by him was. He really understands the dancefloor, and a record that replicates sexual build-up. It's a very sensual and playful record. That in itself is a bit like Prince, but it's all sample-based stuff, and then the vocals as far as I can tell. Sometimes I'm playing in clubs where the expectation is that you'll just play very digital and harsh, abrasive music. I don't really like being known as an electronic artist because I don't think of myself like that. I like everything, predominantly soul music and music that is soulful, rather than just from the soul genre. Moodymann's inspiring because of his approach to production, and he's very inventive."

"One of the bands that I watched in a backyard party that made me decide I wanted to be a musician had played the song '2112'. I heard that weird pedal effect at the beginning and thought, ""Are you kidding me?!"" That was the opening of a whole new world. I lost track of them after Permanent Waves when I started doing my own thing, but you can't ignore their legacy. Alex Lifeson is another with a really bizarre approach to guitar playing. It sometimes seems that his solos don't have a direction because they are like spurts of energy, almost like solar bursts. It's all so progressive to the point that when they do a comparatively straightforward song, it almost seems like they are dumbing things down – something like 'Working Man' for example, which is a simple rock track. But generally they are progressive rock at its very best and bands like Dream Theater owe a lot to them. Although Megadeth has progressive elements, I'm not a huge fan of pure prog as such. I respect the players because they are so talented, but to me it might feel like you're in a straitjacket. Incidentally, people have referred to Rust In Peace as being a progressive record, but in truth it was just where we were at the time. In fact I always saw it as a thrashy little metal record, as opposed to sounding like early Genesis or King Crimson where you dropped acid and went, ""Whoa dude…"" Not that I've ever done that, I should add…"

"I only had it on tape recorded off record. I just thought it was unbelievable. I don’t know whether it’s timeless, because it puts me back in that room more than any other album. If I put it on I’m 13 again and there's a certain dappled light coming in, and it’s spring, and it’s early summer and it gets me every time. It’s genius. Great production, and best backing vocals in the history of time on ‘Satellite Of Love’ by Bowie and Ronson. ‘Andy’s Chest’ I’ve never been all that hot on but the lyrics are amazing. Bowie and Ronson’s production was crucial to this album. Because Lou would have come in with those songs, the way he plays them now – he doesn’t even know what the tune is anymore: [robotic voice] “It’s just a perfect. Day. I’m glad. I spent it. With you.” And that’s what he would have sung to Bowie and Ronson. And Ronson would have gone: [thick Yorkshire accent] “here Dave, what the fuckin’ ‘ell have we got ourselves into?” And Dave’s probably gone: “Er, yeah, nice work... Some semblance of a melody there, but I’m afraid it’s gonna have to go like this…” He sounds like Stephen fuckin’ Hawking sometimes, Lou does… It’s utterly brilliant - forever. You sing these songs to yourself whether you’re doing the crossword or watching the telly - that’s the measure of ’em. And I love the gift of great lyrics. You can have the greatest tune in the world but if the lyrics are crap, forget it."