Released: 04/08/2023
Format: 2LP, Transparent Green Vinyl
Label: Wichita Recordings
Cat no: WEBB576LP
Following their Nowhere 30th anniversary UK tour last year, shoegaze legends Ride release two more titles of their early classic albums Tarantula and Carnival of Light via Wichita Recordings. These follow last year’s reissues of Nowhere, 4EPs, and Going Blank Again from their days on Creation Records.
Carnival of Light, the band’s third album is repressed in transparent glow in the green double vinyl, and comes with a 12x12 insert, as well as CD format.
Credit Ride for using only their own creative radar, completely ignoring all outside expectations for their third LP. Listeners could tell they had a love for the likes of the Byrds and Buffalo Springfield, but admiring the Black Crowes was practically out of the question for the scene that birthed them. Even Crowes producer George Drakoulias was called in to produce, but John Leckie ended up working on the majority.
Carnival's first side largely consists of Mark Gardener's songs, while the latter is mainly Andy Bell's affair. Gardener's contributions are solid. '1000 Miles' lifts '60s jangle convincingly. 'From Time to Time' is a 'Vapour Trail' part two of sorts, lyrically, introduced with tasteful rhodes tones from Andy Bell.