Nowhere could be the second album, the one on which the band gets confidence of itself, on which the studio work and the will get stronger than the hours of improvisation we cannot really see the point. If the first e.p.s had been recorded very quickly (two or three tries for each song), they worked much longer on the album, which has, as a consequence, a more mature sound.
Ride, and the 11 songs of the album have all a common point : the omnipresence
of Mark Gardener and Andy Bell's guitars. They create the web on which the song
evolve (Kaleidoscope, Nowhere), and on which are placed the drums, creating
a great rhythm (Seagull). They also are sometimes more plaintive (Polar Bear),
or even a bit romantic (Dreams Burn Down).
But the more you listen to the album, the more the songs' texture gets richer :
from the special effects (Polar Bear) to the violon/cello (Vapour Trail) or
the harmonica (Here And Now, Nowhere). Steve Querault's bass guitar is particularly
remarkable on Decay, next to Laurence Cobert's drums, making a two times tempo,
very different from the other tracks. Decay is, for me, one of the most controlled
songs of the album, with Taste, Seagull and Dreams Burn Down. But it's a matter
of taste !
Ride enjoys playing on repetition, and a rhythm that remains the same during
the whole song, but they also like clear breakings like in Paralysed that starts
as a long lament, gets stronger and stronger, gets higher in a guitar crescendo;
and suddenly stops to get calm again. In a Different Place also plays on this
alternance slow verse/quick chorus. But anyway, the slowness is never really
slow and Ride is a real rock band !
As we've already said before, Mark's voice, hold, and sometimes replaced by
Andy's one (Vapour Trail) evolve smoothly even when the music gets more aggressive.
On In a Different Place, Dreams Burn Down or Paralysed, he wonderfully settles
the framework of the guitars.
Nowhere is a very rich album, which cannot be summarized as a guitar throw,
but which uses them to create worked scores. And this will of perfection makes
us think that Ride's wave won't hit nowhere, but will still grow to, finally,
hit the coast of the best rock bands. Hearing them, they don't seem to want
that (prudence and innocence...), but, as fans, we're here to help them. Aren't
we ?
Review by
Translation by Thomas Burgel
Brussels, VK, 7.30 p.m.: the hall doors open and the first fans run to the front. They will have to wait another two hours until, on a slow and deep music, they climb on stage: Andy, Mark, Steve and Laurence: RIDE!
Looking quiet, the band has chosen to start softly and, on the modulating sounds of Andy's guitar, Polar Bear already charms us with its haunting rhythm. In the audience, a vave of moving bodies slowly rises...Playing with surprises, Ride then offers us a first title of the forthcoming EP, Unfamiliar, later followed by other three new tracks, Beneath, Sennen and the beautiful Today reserved for the end. From the start, the typical catchy sound of the guitars entwine around intense bass lines, powerful drum beats and warm vocals. Ride does not skimp over its riches; they all have talent enough and to spare and together, they will knock us down before the end of the show. That's a good start!
Third card on the table, third trump (but then, they have them all, the game was fixed!), Like a Daydream brings us back on familiar ground as you can tell from a cheering audience. Would that be a classic already? Same reaction for the melancholic Drive Blind and the captivating Vapour Trail where Andy Bell's clear voice succeeds to Mark Gardener's and with a superb guitar trio at the end.
The concert goes on and Ride's game is unbeatable. Each title is a pearl with different sheen but they all follow in a harmonious string. Mark and Steve play on power and rhythm while Andy uses all the resources in his guitar to extract irresistible melodies. And then, of course, there is Laurence on drums, always there, always efficient, and giving us some good shaking, as in Seagull, Today and Perfect Time.
As to the presence on stage, the Oxford four do not need to show off: their music is strong enough to arouse great feelings and only a few words from Mark to introduce songs or to thank the audience will interrupt this flow of decibels. Fans do not need more to get fun and the slowly rising wave has turned into a storm in the first rows at the front!
And indeed, the end of the concert is unforgettable. To end the set, first the lively Taste which blows a fresh wind on a conquered audience, then the new title Today, long, melodious and very atmospherical. Unfortunately, first playing on acoustic guitar, Andy must take another one due to a broken string. The track is thus played on electric guitar, probably with a loss in shade but the beauty of the song remains intact. This new EP is a winner!
Then before the encore, Seagull, long claimed for by the audience, drains some more sweat on and off stage! What, is Ride going? No way: we want more!
For the encore, two titles that could not be more "ear-catching": Dreams Burn Down and the unavoidable Chelsea Girl, which can only be blamed for being too short and for bringing the end of a concert that we would have wished so much longer. However, for a first tour as headliners and with such a burning music, Ride can leave with pride, after 70 minutes with not a single second lost, not a single note wasted.
Fans could regret the absence of Paralyzed, Decay and other Nowhere, but that's a drawn game. Ride will come back, we are already waiting for them!
Review by
The interview takes place in the VK backstage, just before the gig. Steve, who plays the bass, and Andy who rejoins us later, are very calm and even seem a bit fed up. After three weeks of a restless tour, the fatigue appears...and the merit of giving an interview to Ticket to Ride for their French and Belgian fans is bigger than ever ! Thanks !
So it's the end of the european tour, isn't it?
Steve : Yes. In fact, we came back in Europe last week to make five gigs
in Germany, and we thought we could play in Bruxelles before getting back to
UK.
Was it great in Germany?
Steve : Yes. We had already played in Hamburg, last year, but only for
the 100 people who had wanted to come ! 1200 people came to our last gig
in Hamburg !
It's often said that the German audience is quite cold. Is that true ?
Steve : At the begining of gig, yes. But after a few songs, it's better.
We must admit that it's hard to heat on your music!
Steve : It's you that say that !
After Bruxelles, you go back to England ?
Steve : Yes, we're getting back home tomorrow, and we'll play five gigs
[7 in fact]. We'll begin on Friday. Then we're going to the USA for six week
and a tour with Lush.
The compilation “Smile” has been released in the USA.
Steve : True, with the two first e.p.s.
Is it doing well over there?
Steve : In fact, we don't have any advertisement. The record has been released
to give to the people an idea of what we're playing. They just released “Nowhere”
which does not too bad. That's why we're going to tour over there.
And Japan, Australia?
Steve : We've already played in Japan, and it was real holidays! Great!
As for Australia, we're not going there for the moment. We have too many projects
and too little time, and we'd also like to rest a little.
Do you sometimes create new songs during the soundcheck, before the gig?
Steve : Sometimes, yes. In fact, for our next EP, which is released next
week, half of the tracks had been writen during our last tour's soundchecks.
When we entered the studio, even if we didn't have real songs, we had lots of
ideas. That's how we have recorded the EP, from these ideas we got during the
tour.
Do you write all together?
Steve : Yes, for me, the new EP is the best example of how we work. We
didn't have any complete songs already written in advance. We needed, to record
the EP, to meet and play together.
Will you play any new song tonight?
Steve : Yes, the four tracks of the new EP, Unfamiliar, Sennen, Today and...(he's
thinking)
Beneath?
Steve : Yes, that's it! Have you heard them already?
No, but I hope I will soon! Your first e.p.s haven't been officially distributed
here, and I hope the next one will.
Steve : It should be distributed by Sire here.
Have you got projects for a new album?
Steve : Let's say we'll record new things when we'll get back from the
USA. We'll have some free weeks, and we'll use two of them to go in studio and
record the ideas we already have. But we still don't know if the next record
will be an album or, more probably, a new EP to be released before Xmas.
End of part one - The interview continues on issue #2.
Interview by
Translation by Thomas Burgel