“I’m talking about death, family, living in the city and sex,” says David Tattersall, guitarist and vocalist of British indie rock trio, The Wave Pictures. “I hope that doesn’t sound too heavy, it’s a simple song and I put some jokes in the lyrics too.” “Like Smoke,” the evocative track in question, closes the band’s latest album City Forgiveness. Released on the London-based Moshi Moshi records, the poignant, acoustic slow jam is here given an unexpected dance partner in filmmaker Tabitha Denholm’s footage of Louisiana trail riders at an R&B-infused zydeco music party. “My friend [the blues-rock musician] C.C. Adcock was always regaling me with tales of the great music, food, people of the countryside of New Orleans,” says Denholm, who documented the Creole community in late 2013, currently developing a film on Balearic club culture. “After I went there, I couldn't get the imagery of people taking horses to dance parties out my head. I think the combination brings out something new and quite lovely in the footage and the music.” As the band continued their UK tour with French artists Stanley Brinks and Freschard, NOWNESS quizzed Tattersall on his music heroes.
 
I love The Rolling Stones, especially the early rhythm-and-blues stuff. When they did things like Jimmy Reed’s “Honest I Do” or Rufus Thomas’s “Walking The Dog” they were so good: you really hear what sensitive and sympathetic musicians the Stones are.

Wreckless Eric is someone who I admire very much. Especially the albums he made in total obscurity in the 80s: Le Beat Group Electrique in particular is very, very good.

Wild Billy Childish is a genius at recording, a great sonic artist who really understands rock and roll. At his best, he’s the equal of someone like Link Wray in the studio.

Lately, I really love The Who. Strictly the early stuff. The Who went shit quickly and stayed shit. I can live without all that pompous rock opera nonsense. But the debut album is totally killer. They have so much energy. Pete Townsend is a crappy lyricist, but he was a great guitar player.

The Wave Pictures play Islington Assembly Hall in London on April 18 and have a limited-edition vinyl release of the “Helen” EP for Record Store Day on April 19.