Standout longplayers

2 April 2024

Press photo by Cal McIntyre

British renowned shoegaze veterans have their
7th LP, named INTERPLAY out, their first in 5 years.

The Guardian: “Like reunited noise-poppers Slowdive, Pixies and the Jesus and Mary Chain, Ride’s reformation era has now lasted longer than their original incarnation. Unlike those peers, though, the Oxford four-piece usually delivered far better singles and gigs than albums. On Interplay, they don’t try to replicate the delicate thunder of their live shows, but foreground less familiar elements such as synths, pianos, strings and, crucially, space.
It’s their most adult album yet, and it suits them.” Score: 4/5.

Album artwork

TUTV: I wasn’t a big Ride fan over the years as they kept on shoegazing too much in the same space, for my liking. Guess what? With Interplay the past goes in the dustbin as the present Ride are fabulous. They come up with some terrifically arousing tunes (Peace Sign / Last Frontier / Monaco and the superbly exploding Light In A Quit Room), alternated with pepped-up reveries (Last Night I Went Somewhere To ream / Midnight Rider / Essaouira / Yesterday Is Just A Song).

All songs are sublimely orchestrated and bath in a psychedelic jacuzzi while vocalist Mark Gardner‘s velvet vocals match the sonic atmosphere exquisitely. It’s only April, but Interplay is, without a shadow of a doubt, one of the best longplayers of 2024, so far. Ride have mixed emotions about today’s restless times, me too, but not about this record. Lots of five-star stuff.

Singles/clips: Peace Sign / Monaco / Last Frontier

– PEACE SIGN –

– MONACO –

– LAST FRONTIER –

ALBUM

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RIDE: Instagram