Mark Gardener’s former band Ride is known for a droning, druggy guitar wash, of the kind practiced by My Bloody Valentine and their noise pop contemporaries in the early ‘90s. The title notwithstanding, These Beautiful Ghosts, Gardener’s first solo record since Ride’s messy break-up in 1996, does indeed sound more than a little haunted. At the very least, there’s a certain nostalgia in the wistful, autumnal tone of the record. But this is definitely not an attempt to raise the spirits of his past with fuzzboxes and feedback. Collaborating here with alt-country band (and fellow Oxford lads) Goldrush, it’s only occasionally one hears a hint of his old band’s hypnotic racket. The instrumental "Flaws of Perception" chugs through a melancholy opening, then blossoms into a still-polite delirium, while "Getting Out of Your Own Way" starts off mining the sparse '60s jangle pop that characterized Ride’s Carnival of Light before pleasantly trailing off into the ether. On other songs, Gardener sounds a little crusty, a little too restrained. "Magdalen Sky" hides a good central melody behind a wall of treacle, while other songs, like the eventually decent "Rhapsody"" take too long to find their way. Still, Goldrush's earthy accompaniment helps to leaven the pensive mood and if Gardener chooses to keep playing with them he stands a good chance of resurrecting himself for a second musical life. --Matthew Cooke
Product Description
The highly anticipated solo debut by the frontman of the UK act RIDE.
These Beautiful Ghosts opens with "Snow In Mexico," an ethereal and poignant piece Mark says is, "… about people collisions." Inspired by a newspaper headline, Mark ran with the spirit of the words. "It’s really about how people can blow hot and cold, be one way one minute and then completely different, the next."
Texturally, the record does retain some of the atmospheric nuance that Ride knew so well. For reference, listening to mammoth pieces like the sweeping "Gravity Flow" but These Beautiful Ghosts is a completely different animal. "I wanted to make a record that’s got some weight and some emotional content, but is also interesting to listen to." The emotive quality of the record is certainly not lost to its soundscapes. Rather, the wedding of neat sounds to songs that reach out to us are palpable as in the bonafide pop song, "To Get Me Through" and the gorgeous "Summer Turns To Fall" (actually penned by Robin from Goldrush and American songwriter Danny Power while meditating on Mark’s time with Ride), with its uplifting harmonies reminiscent of the best things Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young have ever done. The rest of the record rolls off like a desert wind- memorable, mysterious and refreshing.
These Beautiful Ghosts
These Beautiful Ghosts,Mark Gardener (with Goldrush),UFO,Indie Rock,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop
These Beautiful Ghosts
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These Beautiful Ghosts
Mark Gardener (with Goldrush) Manufacturer: UFO ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD  General
| Alternative Rock
| Styles
| Music
Indie Rock
| Indie & Lo-Fi
| Alternative Rock
| Styles
| Music
General
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
Pop Rock
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
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ASIN: B000B6TR16 Release Date: 2005-10-11 |
Tracks:
- Snow In Mexico
- Getting Out Of Your Own Way
- To Get Me Through
- Magdalen Sky
- Rhapsody
- Summer Turns To Fall
- Beautiful Ghosts
- Flaws Of Perception
- The Story Of The Eye
- Where Are You Now?
- Water And Wine
- Gravity Flow
Amazon.com
Mark Gardener's former band Ride is known for a droning, druggy guitar wash, of the kind practiced by My Bloody Valentine and their noise pop contemporaries in the early `90s. The title notwithstanding, These Beautiful Ghosts, Gardener's first solo record since Ride's messy break-up in 1996, does indeed sound more than a little haunted. At the very least, there's a certain nostalgia in the wistful, autumnal tone of the record. But this is definitely not an attempt to raise the spirits of his past with fuzzboxes and feedback. Collaborating here with alt-country band (and fellow Oxford lads) Goldrush, it's only occasionally one hears a hint of his old band's hypnotic racket. The instrumental "Flaws of Perception" chugs through a melancholy opening, then blossoms into a still-polite delirium, while "Getting Out of Your Own Way" starts off mining the sparse '60s jangle pop that characterized Ride's Carnival of Light before pleasantly trailing off into the ether. On other songs, Gardener sounds a little crusty, a little too restrained. "Magdalen Sky" hides a good central melody behind a wall of treacle, while other songs, like the eventually decent "Rhapsody"" take too long to find their way. Still, Goldrush's earthy accompaniment helps to leaven the pensive mood and if Gardener chooses to keep playing with them he stands a good chance of resurrecting himself for a second musical life. --Matthew CookeAlbum Description
The highly anticipated solo debut by the frontman of the UK act RIDE.These Beautiful Ghosts opens with "Snow In Mexico," an ethereal and poignant piece Mark says is, "… about people collisions." Inspired by a newspaper headline, Mark ran with the spirit of the words. "It's really about how people can blow hot and cold, be one way one minute and then completely different, the next."
Texturally, the record does retain some of the atmospheric nuance that Ride knew so well. For reference, listening to mammoth pieces like the sweeping "Gravity Flow" but These Beautiful Ghosts is a completely different animal. "I wanted to make a record that's got some weight and some emotional content, but is also interesting to listen to." The emotive quality of the record is certainly not lost to its soundscapes. Rather, the wedding of neat sounds to songs that reach out to us are palpable as in the bonafide pop song, "To Get Me Through" and the gorgeous "Summer Turns To Fall" (actually penned by Robin from Goldrush and American songwriter Danny Power while meditating on Mark's time with Ride), with its uplifting harmonies reminiscent of the best things Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young have ever done. The rest of the record rolls off like a desert wind- memorable, mysterious and refreshing.
Customer Reviews:
2 Thumbs Up.......2006-06-05
"A warm and intriguing voice...".......2006-06-01
listen to this album.......2006-05-24
Impressive Solo Debut!.......2005-10-18
I was lucky enough to catch Mark on tour this past September, where I was treated to an incrediable show and a preview of this album. I needlessly worried that what I experienced at the show wouldn't be represented on the album, but knowing Mark, I should have known better. This album is Mark, and it is amazing because of that.
The album is a wonderful, wonderful record that demands to be played over and over again.
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