I lost inspiration for the Telescopes. Then dave was replaced by Nick. Nick and I began writing together, which got me into the idea of forming a new group that was a more collaborative arrangement.

Even though you were on Creation Records, The Telescopes seemed to be really underrated compared to some of the your other UK contemporaries like Ride and Slowdive. Why do you think that was? Was it a case of you not playing the press game as much as some of the other groups?

I'm sorry but neither one of those bands would have existed without the Telescopes. Both bands supported us on tours, we never supported them.

What are your thoughts on the whole shoegazer/Creation Records scene that you were part of, (i.e. MBV, early Boo Radleys, Ride, Pale Saints)? For many people, myself included, that was the most inspiring period of music in the 90's.

Better than Britpop. I thought the term Shoegazer was fairly ridiculous though. During our time we were, "Class of 89", "postgeneric", "ethereal", "the scene that celebrates itself", "psychedelic", "indie", "baggy".... so I took it with a pinch of salt. We were skygazers really :)

How soon after the Telescopes broke up did you form Unisex?

The same day.

What was your vision for the group? Did you set out consciously to do something different to what the Telescopes had done?

I wanted to collaborate with other people and open myself up to new possibilities in sound/arrangements and melody. I was already getting that kind of experience with the production of the Telescopes and it helped me, so I wanted to try it in other departments too.

Parts of the Deadlock EP are more aggressive sounding than the last self-titled Telescopes LP or the later EPs like "Celeste." Were you reacting against your previous work or did you just feel like being more upfront on some of the material?

Its just the sound we made at that time when we got in a room together & played. The lyrics were random cut-ups taken from US gun magazines, made using the same techniques William Burroughs applied to his writing. They were all happy accidents. I don't think Deadlock is as aggressive sounding as the first Scopes album or the singles leading up to Celeste and Everso.

Stratosfear is quite a departure from Deadlock, even more atmospheric sounding than The Telescopes. What inspired you to go in that direction? Were you listening to anything in particular or was it a natural progression?

I was conscious of bringing a lot more of my own ideas to the collective table than I had done on previous Unisex recordings. i'm sure that made a difference. Nick had been listening to a lot of Latin music, so that's where the percussive side of the album comes from. He'd also been doing a lot of soundtrack music for films like A Room for Romeo Brass. Maybe that influenced 'A Second Swell'. 'Let the Night Roar' was made a couple of days after I did 'Its Mashed Potato Time' with Füxa for their 'Techno Light' 7", so I think I was still in an abstract state of mind from that.

What are some of your favorite tracks on Stratosfear?

My favourite track is 'Let the Night Roar'.

What made you decide to resurrect The Telescopes?

A few things. I had written a load of songs that felt like they should be the third Telescopes album. Then Randall from Füxa came & stayed at my house. Randall is a big fan of the Telescopes and wanted to know what had happened - a lot of people thought we were still making our third album. I told him about these songs and he said I should do it. Then Peter from Double Agent said he would finance and release it.

Will Unisex continue now that The Telescopes are back together again? I know you share some of the same personnel and the music is pretty similar, so I was curious if you were going to keep both groups going?

I hope so. I'd like to continue the work I do with Füxa too. The Telescopes album is very different to the Unisex album. They have nothing in common. Unisex are only on very little of it. i've used some session musicians, and a few people from other groups have helped out, but the majority of the recordings have been my own. The Telescopes are totally different from Unisex, they are and always have been a lone vision, where as Unisex is a collaboration. so I think there is plenty of room for the two to co-exist.

What can we expect from the new Telescopes recordings? Will it be in the same vein as the last self-titled album or will you incorporate some of the more space rock dynamics from Unisex?

You can expect what you least expect. Which is the way it's always been with the Scopes. But I guarantee you it's better than the first two albums put together.

Do you have plans to tour with The Telescopes, or are you just making a record?

If the demand is there I will.

The Telescopes were on a large indie, Creation Records, which was probably somewhat akin to being on a major. In comparison, Double Agent is a much smaller operation. What are some of the differences between being on Creation and Double Agent?

On one label the deals were done in a pub or a transit van, on the other label everything is done via email and through the post.

What are your thoughts on the current music scene in the UK and the US?

I think there are some great bands in the UK and the US at the moment. You've got Low, Tortoise, Füxa, the For Carnation and Bablicon who are all doing some great stuff and we've got great bands like Pram, Magnetophone, Third Eye Foundation, Los Planetos del Agua and Keiron Phelan/David Sheppard.

Which country do you think is most conducive to Unisex/Telescopes?

No idea. Both, hopefully.

How do you feel the state of music is now compared to when you first formed The Telescopes in the late 80's?

Infinitely better. The bands are as daring, but the press doesn't seem to be - in the UK anyway. There's too much coverage given to insubstantial bands like Travis and Coldplay or any band that is unfortunate enough to sound like them.

Who are some of your favorite artists, current and all-time?

All time favourites are Sun Ra, Pharoah Sanders, Steve Reich, Charles Bukowski's live readings, Can, eary Kraftwerk, some early Neil Young... the more arranged stuff. Current favourites are Amon Tobin, Kreidler, Yellow6 and the For Carnation.

Are there any contemporary groups out there who you feel are kindred spirits?

Some. Not many.

Any final thoughts, things you would like to say?

Only that I'll be releasing the first two albums on my label, Antenna, sometime this year. They will be Füxa "The Modified Mechanics of this Device" and the debut Los Planetos del Agua album which I play theremin on. Both are excellent and well worth searching out.