Math rock outfit Tubelord went through a host of changes prior to the production of last year's second album, 'Romance'.  Now currently in the midst of a massive UK tour, the band took time out from their rota of taking their brand of R.O.M.A.N.C.E to every part of the UK to discuss the album, line-up changes and the state of guitar music with Shout4Music.

For anyone new to Tubelord how would you describe the band?

Yourcodenameis:Milo playing Scrabble with Phil Collins

You've been on tour, how's it going?

It's pretty standard, already quite a high-level of obnoxious in-jokes and banter,

The Cambridge gig is the start of a packed week of live dates, how does playing live rate on the things you enjoy most about being in a band? And how important is it to you?

"tonight when I was playing, like…that was it, I had a really fun time tonight" -Dave

'Romance' came out last year, what did you make to the reaction it got?

I can't recall any really nasty reviews except maybe one, from speaking to people who have listened, very few seem to have got 'it', using the word 'it' as if I honestly know what 'it' is. But I think we're getting there, this is it…almost.

How was the writing and producing process for 'Romance' when compared to your debut 'Our First American Friends'? 

Completely different, not only did we have an additional member in comparison to recording 'Our First American Friends', but the production process was more of a hands-on process for all involved which definitely helped all four of us to be more considerate with our own parts, thus helping the song breathe and take shape.

So, you had some line-up changes in 2010, did (and if so how) the new faces affect the writing of 'Romance'?

James was an old friend we had recorded with before on early 7" releases and CD EPs, but he only ever begun to get involved with the songwriting/structuring process on the 'Tezcatlipoca' EP released at some point back then, in the past. With his new face officially a part of Tubelord post 'Tezcatlipoca', his input into the writing process was to be heavily ingrained not just within the structuring of the songs but also in developing the textures and sounds of the synthesisers into something more pleasing on the ear than my bedroom demos I was sending around to James, Dave and Tom.

You play guitar, where do you stand on the current guitar debate and the feeling that 2011 wasn't a great year for guitar bands?

I had no idea there was a feeling of 2011 not being a great year for guitar bands? I listened to quite a lot of fantastic guitar-driven music in 2011, whether it was understated pop music or rap or rock or whatever you like.

If a decrease in the popularity of 'guitar' music as you see it is true, it is surely for a reason, and that reason being could perhaps be because the quality songwriting is not happening within the 'guitar' realm as you see it, and if that is the case, I can only see the decline in its popularity as a good thing. Consider the form and it's relevance, if it is meaning less to people then lets get rid of what we once knew and advance, sowing seeds for the future of music to bloom into a sound and a form relevant to now, if this is without guitars then so be it, be done with them.

What do you make to the Lostprophets comment about the world needing them as there is no good guitar music in the charts?

I have no desire to spend time debating insecurity problems of the self-indulgent, privileged minority of pop music musicians making a living from exploiting the insecurity problems of the self-indulgent, unprivileged majority.

2012 has just started what are Tubelord's aims and aspirations for the year ahead?

To learn how to fly.