Today, Ride makes a triumphant return with the announcement of their seventh studio album, “Interplay,” set to release on March 29th via Wichita Recordings / PIAS. This marks the Oxford four-piece’s third album since reuniting in 2014, surpassing the duration of their original stint as 90s shoegaze pioneers. The album reveal is accompanied by the release of its lead single, “Peace Sign,” available now.
Following the success of 2017’s “Weather Diaries” and 2019’s “This Is Not A Safe Place,” which reignited the Ride spark, the upcoming album weaves together the band’s musical journey. Produced by the band with Richie Kennedy and mixed by Claudius Mittendorfer, “Interplay” draws from the frenzied guitar attacks, hypnotic grooves, and dreamy melodic hooks of their early work, now set against a more expansive sonic backdrop inspired by 80s pop gems like Tears For Fears, Talk Talk, and early U2.
Thematically, “Interplay” explores classic Ride themes such as escapism, dreams, and the discontent of modern life, coupled with a resilient spirit born from the band’s experiences of breaking apart, reforming, and finding a path to their second peak. Guitarist and singer Andy Bell reflects on the album’s journey, stating, “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.”
The album’s lead single, “Peace Sign,” features a driving bassline, euphoric 80s-inspired synths, and saxophone, serving as a fitting introduction to “Interplay.” Andy Bell shares insights into the single, revealing its origins as a jam recorded at Marks’ OX4 studio in early 2021, inspired by the visionary free climber Marc-André Leclerc.
Comprising guitarists/vocalists Andy Bell and Mark Gardener, drummer Laurence “Loz” Colbert, and bassist Steve Queralt, Ride initially formed in Oxford in 1988. Known for blending 60s guitar-pop sensibilities with waves of noise and driving rhythms, they pioneered the shoegaze genre. Despite critical and commercial success, the band disbanded in 1996. The reunion in 2014 led to collaborations with legendary producer Erol Alkan, resulting in the acclaimed albums “Weather Diaries” and “This Is Not A Safe Place.”
As of 2024, shoegaze has experienced a resurgence, capturing a new wave of Gen-Z fans through platforms like TikTok. With artists such as Jane Remover, julie, sign crushes motorist, quannnic, DIIV, bdrmm, and Just Mustard gaining popularity, Ride finds themselves at the forefront of this revitalized genre. A quarter of a century since their formation, “Interplay” sees Ride reaching new creative heights and standing stronger than ever, with a new generation discovering and embracing their timeless music.