Andy Powell in conversation about Wonderful Stash, the anthology of Wishbone Ash's ventures into clubland.

Q. You've always been diverse in the genres your band has embraced. The collection on this box set fuses your quintessential guitar sound with urban and electronic club rhythms. How did this extraordinary sound clash with X-ert sound crew come about?
A. I had been introduced to Mike Bennett through our bass player Bob Skeat, and one thing led to another. Mike played some of the things he was produced and put the idea of a dance CD to me. At the same time, my sons were all listening to dance music incessantly, so it was everywhere. It struck me that we used to play around in the studio in the old days with loops and so forth but had never done this as a bone fida project.

Q. Some of the tracks have a live feel whilst others sound like they were derived from samples and loops. Was there a set brief for the writing and recording process?
A. No, it was pretty free form - 'suck it and see' so to speak. The studio is such a creative medium that we employed everything in the recording process. The fact that there were no rules made it that much more fun.

Q. The short film Wonderful Stash - included here - received heavy rotation on both MTV and VH1. What was the idea behind it? Who directed it and what was the director's background?
A. The director / producer, Christian Guyonnet, is a friend of mine from Paris who has produced quite a few videos for mainly French acts, like Les Negresses Vertes for example. He's also worked in advertising and is affiliated with Studioline, the studio we have used in Paris for various projects.

Q. Do you follow the club scene? If so, what are you listening to at the moment?
A. Nah... it only makes sense if you are doing it - dancing, that is. Trouble is, I'm on the road so much that I have to say it was only a brief dalliance.

Q. You've worked with a wide range of producers which presumably explains a lot about your broad repertoire. What was William Orbit like to work with?
A. Excellent. He's a very creative person who does the most with the least. He's a dabbler who really understands grooves. He was the first artist of this type that I met, making music in a new way. At the time he was using quite vintage samplers like the AMS, and really had a grip on the small studio and the techniques he'd mastered. He was a quick worker too!

Q. There have been rumours that you are into hip hop. Are there any plans to make an album using these influences?
A. Again, mostly though my son Aynsley, who, as the drummer with the band Iluminada, has turned me onto these new kinds of grooves. I'd love to do something in this area.

Q. Trance Visionary received a mixed reaction from the fans whereas Psychic Terrorism had a more positive reaction across the board. What in your opinion was the intrinsic difference between these two sets?
A. Psychic was a bit more organic and accessible to the fans, plus they'd already had their ears retuned by Trance Visionary by that time - which naturally helped.

Q. Your club release featuring Wrongfully Righteousness did extremely well in the dance charts and was championed by the likes of Kiss FM, Cream and Ministry. Do you think that the DJs were aware of the band's history or saw you as a new act?
A. Minimally aware, I'd say. The name probably spiked interest but beyond that, the music did it on it's own merit.

Q. With a multitude of line-ups the band has sustained an enviable recording career. What is the secret behind this prolific output?
A. Needing to pay the rent? No, seriously, we can up in the era of progressive rock, when bands were less specialised and more free to mix and match styles. Therefore we've always managed to keep it interesting for ourselves without too much commercial pressure. Remember it was the early days of FM radio in the US, not like it is now with format radio. You could get away with playing songs lasting fifteen minutes.

Q. Recently, you've played an acclaimed sellout concert at Shepherds Bush Empire featuring the likes of Laurie Wisefied and Claire Hamill to name but a few. The ensuing Eagle Rock DVD of the show was a triumph. Did you think the event would be such a success?
A. Well, we were a little worried since it had been awhile since we'd played central London but it the end, that worked in our favour.

Q. How much do you attribute your hectic touring schedule to the ongoing success of the band?
A. It's absolutely crucial. You're not going to see too many videos or articles in the music press on our band so getting out there in the clubs and theatres is the name of the game. I have so say that the Internet plays a strong role as well these days.