Interplay

by Ride

Overview

While Ride are often (rightfully) name-checked as one of the foundational shoegaze bands, their sound never stayed completely in one place for long. This was true before their initial breakup in 1996, as they ventured into increasingly psychedelic pop territory on releases like Carnival of Light, and they've continued to try new things after reuniting in the mid-2010s, bringing electronic production approaches and genre experimentation to post-reunion albums Weather Diaries (2017) and This Is Not a Safe Place (2019). The band take their sound even further away from shoegaze basics on their seventh album (and third since reuniting), Interplay. One of the more notable shifts on the album is how the songwriting looks more to the influence of '80s synth pop than ever before. The spacious verses and yearning melodies of "Last Frontier" sound borrowed directly from Echo and the Bunnymen, and "I Came to See the Wreck" is built of syncopated rhythms, burbling bass synth, and interlocking guitar leads that bring to mind the gloomy orchestrations of Disintegration-era Cure. "Monaco" is perhaps the most out of left field moment on Interplay, with a synthetic arrangement and melodic style akin to Duran Duran. It's unlike much else in Ride's catalog, but feels more like a misfire than the band breaking adventurous new ground. The exploring isn't limited to synth pop nostalgia. "Essaouira" loops a trip-hop beat and sprinkles fragmented samples and ephemeral synths into the mix as the song slowly forms over its seven-minute run time. The eerie and minimal closing track "Yesterday Is Just a Song" sounds like a deep-space collaboration between Pink Floyd and Gary Numan. While it's great to hear the reunited group not simply defaulting to the style they're best known for, some of the record's most exhilarating moments still come when Ride return to their signature elements. "Portland Rocks" has huge, crashing drums, a slowly unfolding chord progression, dreamy guitar leads, and tight vocal harmonies, all bringing back the tension and wonderment of the band's peak '90s material. The midtempoed "Last Night I Went Somewhere to Dream" is similar, with a structure reliant on simmering dynamics and layers of warm guitar textures. "Peace Sign" attempts to bridge the two worlds Ride are living between on Interplay, with signature harmonies from Mark Gardener and Andy Bell and a bumpy, rocking rhythm section that crosses paths with synth pads and moments of electronic processing. On the whole, Interplay is interesting but inconsistent, landing more like a collection of ideas being fleshed out than a cohesive album experience. Ultimately, it's commendable that Ride continue to reach beyond their past, but the best moments of Interplay are the ones that remind the listener what made the band so unique to begin with. ~ Fred Thomas

Product Details

Release Date:	03/29/2024
Label:	Wichita
UPC:	5400863145835
Rank:	6545

Tracks

Disc 1

1. Peace Sign
2. Last Frontier
3. Light in a Quiet Room
4. Monaco
5. I Came to See the Wreck
6. Stay Free

Disc 2

7. Last Night I Went Somewhere to Dream
8. Sunrise Chaser
9. Midnight Rider
10. Portland Rocks
11. Essaouira
12. Yesterday Is Just a Song

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Ride   Primary Artist