If music didn't exist. If there were no songs. If there was only one substantial form of song that could be produced like a car or aeroplane I'd be quite happy if it was Lenny Valentino by The Auteurs.

Lenny Valentino by The Auteurs

The Auteurs were essentially a vehicle for Luke Haines. Haines was an uncompromising, sharp-tongued songwriter who formed the group in 1991 after leaving The Servants. Even after their 1993 debut "New Wave" picked up a Mercury Prize nomination, Haines preferred throwing barbs at the rising Britpop elite over joining their parade, keeping the band firmly on the margins.

Technically, the single was released '93, but moving it into '94 meant I could fit two PJ Harvey tracks into 1993!

1994 fits because it is the opening track to their second album, "Now I'm a Cowboy".

I think thing I like most about Lenny Valentino is the changes and the variation. It is a wave song.

Build. Through dead pan vocals.

Crash. Guitar and James Banbury's cello.

Interestingly, in Luke Haines' biography he never mentions James Banbury by name. He just calls him the cellist. Guess they didn't particularly get on.

But tension and release is why it's in 1000 songs. Absolute template for it.