I think the secret to being a Ride fan is to not be surprised at the band's stylistic leaps but, instead, to applaud them. I mean, how often do we expect the group to zig and then they zag? Such is the case with the new record, Interplay. A hodge-podge of diversions, the album fitfully holds together, but works fairly well on a song-by-song basis.
Sure, "Peace Sign" is catchy, but it's not exactly the band at their roaring peak. However, "Last Frontier", with Bernard Sumner-y vocals from Andy Bell, is. One of the strongest numbers this lot have offered up in decades, the composition excels through a deft blend of nuance, noise, and emotion. It's a shoe-in for any list of the best tracks of 2024 and it's only March. Elsewhere, that New Order vibe continues through traces of the same in "Monaco", another early single from this long-player.
Where Interplay is a bit less successful -- depending on what you came here for, of course -- is on the longer "Last Night I Came to See the Wreck" and "Light in a Quiet Room", tunes which seem less impactful than similar pieces from 1990's seminal Nowhere. Still, "Stay Free", a largely acoustic number, finds Ride hitting a sweet spot between their more expansive tendencies and their strivings for direct pop pleasures. That it's a highlight here should be read as proof that at least this reviewer appreciates the chances being taken on Interplay.
The album falters near its final third, though the oddly-titled "Portland Rocks" is a fine rave-up, and "Yesterday is Just a Song" an equally fine, muted closer. Engagement levels may vary among listeners, but I didn't hear much in this last secton of Interplay that felt as compelling as Ride's best material, and certainly nothing as strong as "Last Frontier", or even "Monaco", for that matter. All that being said, Interplay is strong enough in spots to earn a recommendation, though it comes with the caveat that you'll likely either skip a few tracks or play this on shuffle if you're playing the CD or download.
Interplay by Ride is out tomorrow via Wichita Recordings.
More details on Ride via the band's official website.
[Photo: Cal McIntyre]