This album must have slipped out under the radar when it was released in March on the Soleil Apres Minuit label. With all the excitement around the Ride reunion, 'Universal Road' by Robin Guthrie (Cocteau Twins) and Mark Gardener (Ride) must have made an unassuming debut on the shelves.
Now it seems the album is getting a bit of a push so, it's rather like discovering buried treasure. This is an absolute gem, a very fine album indeed, just how did we not know about it in March?
Shimmering guitars abound as one would expect, except it's Robin's electric guitars, bass, keys, drums and production and Mark's blissful voice and acoustic guitars across the album. There seems a deep chemistry in this collaboration. Across the ten songs, the listener gets rewarded via repeated listens; it does become a dreamy album to have on a loop.
The title and opening song, has a beautiful texture that builds over the lyric "I'll carry you, wherever I go" into a crescendo of guitars. 'Dice' starts with the guitars upfront and the ambience is set to dreamy, eyes shut, bliss.
That wall of sound guitars become much more subtle on 'Amnesia' and 'Old Friend' and by the mid-point of the record, the songs are just sweet. A nice intimate gig at say The Shepherds Bush Empire would suit these songs perfectly.
The remaining songs sweep and soar through the headphones, so I am going to enjoy this new found treasure, I hope you do as well.
Pete
10/11
1. Universal Road
2. Dice
3. Amnesia
4. Old Friend
5. Yesterday's News
6. Cry for Survival
7. Sometime
9. Reason
10. Blind