The new single ‘Peace Sign’ from the magnificent Ride signals a shimmering return for the band with a more melodic and layered direction with its euphoric chorus and sparkling sounds. It is the first single off their newly announced album ‘Interplay’ due out March 29 via Wichita and PIAS.
The layered vocals create a celestial attack, with the trademark twin guitar blasting an indelible wall of sound that billows like a mirage in the desert. It is trademark Ride but with a bit more of a new wave pop sensibility and an uplifting anthemic quality.
The lyrics are a paean to perseverance and resilience:
Shine, shining, the thought in your mind
As you’re racing away from the light
Tonight, the feeling inside
Is a tension that’s outside of time
As you climb, the face of the rock
Has a feeling that’s winding you tight
It’s alright, your instincts are always right
Of the new single, Andy Bell says:
‘Peace Sign’ started life as a jam recorded at Marks’ OX4 studio, in early 2021. We called it ‘Berlin’ and initially it featured Loz on drums, Steve on bass, and myself on a prophet 5 synth. About six months later I got hold of the recording and wrestled it into song form. Lyrically I was inspired by a film called The Alpinist about the visionary free climber Marc-André Leclerc. Soon after I’d finished working on the song I remember I was raving to my bandmates about Leclerc at OX4, and a good memory of that time was us all watching that film at Mark’s studio.
It’s a fantastic hors d’oeuvre to the new album and a sign the band’s creativity continues to blossom:
Bell says this about the forthcoming album :
This album has taken a long time to make, and has seen the band go through a lot of ups and downs; maybe the most of any Ride album. But it has seen us come through the process as a band in a good place, feeling able to shake off the past, and ready to celebrate the combined musical talents that brought us together in the first place.
You can pre-order the album here.
Feature Photograph: Cal McIntyre
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