The four-minute orchestral alt-pop masterpiece ‘Stop the Wheel’ is astonishingly only the second single from Bristol-based duo RYDE, following their well-received debut ‘Winter’. Some projects might be reticent to go all-in on their sophomore track, but here’s where this two-piece is different. Not only is this new song sonically cinematic, it’s also thematically weighty as RYDE seek to push deeper into vulnerability, fragility and the connected human experience.
‘Stop the Wheel’ boldly confronts the apathy that many of us settle on as modern life pushes and pulls us towards the brink of self-destruction. It’s that feeling of standing on the edge of a cliff, with intrusive thoughts urging you to leap, yet everything else keeps you tethered to the ground. The wind whips you in the face like the abrupt and explosive chorus. Waves crash on the rocks below like Pete Flood’s kinetic live drums. Strings sweep through the arrangement like the diving and gliding flock of fearless seabirds. Yet, the horizon’s tranquil stability remains the melodic through-line, as reflected by Arran Glass and Brontë Shandë‘s intimate vocal harmonies.
For us at least, RYDE‘s single transports us to a world that’s elemental, unpredictable and rooted in nature’s forms and shapes. It’s a visceral reminder that we’re connected with the earth, even when we try to distance ourselves from global disasters and to sever our instinct of empathy. The cinematic arcs, close harmonies and tempestuous percussion work together to propel a sense of urgency throughout the track. It’s a desire to act in the face of resistance and helplessness.
As a duo who proudly make music for the midnight hours, ‘Stop the Wheel’ is a life-affirming listen that bridges the gap between hope and darkness.
You can also listen to ‘Stop the Wheel’ in our Shades of Pop playlist.
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