Review Summary: Short and sweet, this is not only the best example of Ride's work, but also the best format for their sound
A notable part of the early shoegazing movement was the quality of its EPs. The genre lends itself to shorter track listings intended to be taken in like candy rather than full course meals, and many of its bands took advantage of this with careful attention to their non-full length releases. On the flip side, there is admittedly some difficulty in sitting through the 45+ minutes of bubblegum pop and abrasive additives that spreads across many otherwise killer 'gaze LPs. In fact, this is a fault I hold with Ride's needs-to-be-mentioned album
Nowhere, and perhaps its only fault: it just over stays its welcome. That's why I will always argue
Today Forever as Ride's best release. It's got all their trademark styles perfected: dissonant rhythmic guitar and bass, melodies of incomprehensible singing, and a mastering of fluidity. The drumming continues to be much more prominent and uniquely distinct from the rest of the movement, arguably even a progression from their previous albums. This, coupled with the hypnotic strumming of the guitar and often forward bass lines, lends itself to being much more rhythmic oriented then a lot what was seen from other shoegaze acts. All this comes with the added bonus of avoiding a potential overstay. It knows when it has provided all that it could, and walks away while you are just about satisfied with your dosage. This allows each song to easily form an identity that becomes essential to the pacing of the album. For instance, “Sennen”, my personal favorite Ride song, feels like a stroll through your old neighborhood with the love of your teenage years as the sun begins to set. It's a pivotal part in building the character of the album, reminding you to embrace every moment as the seconds are fleeting. Each song holds up the EP in its own way, but with similar effectiveness. There truly is no wasted time and no missing elements.
What separates this EP from the rest of the genre, and even the band's catalog, is a clear production and a willingness to hold itself back. Here is where Ride perfected their sound, offering clearer waters than the somewhat polluted murkiness of
Nowhere. While this was a strength of
Nowhere's sound, there’s something infinitely more inviting when taking a swim in
Today Forever, despite the fearsome predator lurking in the album artwork. The song writing is a bit more subdued and chilling, and the happiness is much less gimmicky. There is a restraint from throwing out needlessly flashy guitar effects that really help establish a more bare bones and mature style in the EP's sound. It all is pushed in the background to construct the oceanic atmosphere Ride tap into perfectly, one that's difficult to describe but immediately apparent. This makes the ultimate crescendo of the album, the final minutes of “Today”, so much more powerful. These guitar manipulations finally break through the waters above them and reveal themselves in their entirety, before engulfing the song and bringing it back down to silence. It stands as a statement that the band has complete control of their vision, and lifts the needle on an effective goodbye.
