12. TelevisionTelevision

I think my introduction to the album was when Television were on Later on the same episode as John Cale in 1992. It was probably the first time I’d seen them play, so to see them in the Later studio was kind of amazing because they’re so brilliant. And, you know, if only I could be half the guitarist that Richard Lloyd or Tom Verlaine was. ‘1880 Or So’ [played on Later] speaks to my minimalist leanings. It’s a very lateral song that just kind of goes along, not on one chord, but it may as well be on one chord. I love that and the record has a great sound. 

I went to see them at Shepherd’s Bush Empire [2001] and it was not too long after my Cat Power revelations. Just to go to a concert and see a band play where the guitars just sound like guitars, was kind of amazing for me because I’d forgotten you didn’t need 20 effects pedals. The other thing about Television, which probably links a few of the records that I’ve chosen – The Feelies, Lloyd Cole, the Velvets – is the idea of bands where the two guitars have slightly different styles and they’re playing off each other. That’s something I’m always attracted to.