Today Forever
Today Forever is a four-track extended play (EP) by the English rock band Ride, released on 4 March 1991 by Creation Records.[1] The EP consists of the songs "Unfamiliar" (4:58), "Sennen" (4:22), "Beneath" (4:05), and "Today" (6:25), recorded at Black Barn Studios and mixed at Swanyard Studios in London by producer Alan Moulder.[1][2] It marked Ride's fourth EP release following their earlier singles "Ride", "Play", and "Fall", and debuted at number 14 on the UK Singles Chart, where it spent four weeks, and number 1 on the UK Indie Singles Chart.[3][4][5] The EP is emblematic of the shoegaze genre, incorporating elements of indie rock, dream pop, and neo-psychedelia through its layered guitars, ethereal vocals, and atmospheric production.[2] Released in multiple formats including 12-inch vinyl, CD, and cassette, Today Forever contributed to Ride's rising prominence in the early 1990s UK music scene, building anticipation for their debut studio album Nowhere later that year.[1] It has been reissued as part of compilation releases, such as the 2022 box set Ride: 4 EPs.[2]Background and recording
Development
Following the release of their debut album Nowhere in October 1990 and subsequent UK tours, Ride's songwriting for the Today Forever EP took shape in late 1990. Initial demos were captured using bassist Steve Queralt's four-track recorder in home studios, preserving the raw essence of these ideas before formal production. These early recordings demonstrated the band's rapid evolution, blending confidence from touring with their ability to craft ethereal compositions.[6] The band's creative process was deeply influenced by shoegaze pioneers such as My Bloody Valentine, whose innovative use of layered guitars and feedback inspired Ride to push boundaries in texture and density. As labelmates on Creation Records, Ride expressed admiration for My Bloody Valentine's approach, incorporating similar techniques to create swirling, atmospheric walls of sound that defined the EP's sonic identity. This experimentation reflected Ride's position within the burgeoning shoegaze scene, emphasizing dreamlike immersion over conventional song structures.[7][6] Mark Gardener and Andy Bell, Ride's core songwriting duo alongside Queralt and drummer Loz Colbert, collaborated closely on the lyrics for Today Forever, infusing them with themes of isolation and fleeting moments. The resulting songs balanced emotional depth with the genre's signature sonic abstraction.[6]Production
The production of Today Forever occurred in January 1991 at Black Barn Studios in Ripley, England, a facility known for hosting various rock recordings during the era.[8][9] The sessions captured the four tracks—"Unfamiliar," "Sennen," "Beneath," and "Today"—which originated from the band's ongoing songwriting efforts prior to entering the studio.[8] Matt Oliver served as the producer and recording engineer, overseeing the sessions to shape Ride's emerging sound.[10] His work emphasized the interplay between the band's dense, noisy guitar textures and underlying melodic elements, resulting in a cohesive shoegaze aesthetic that built on their previous releases like the debut EP and Nowhere.[11] The EP's total runtime stands at 19:52, with particular focus on extended compositions such as "Today" at 6:26, which allowed for gradual atmospheric layering and dynamic builds.[10] Ride achieved their signature shoegaze tone through the use of Fender Jazzmasters, instruments central to co-guitarists Mark Gardener and Andy Bell's approach of blending distorted walls of sound with harmonic clarity.[12] This production marked a refinement in their sonic palette compared to earlier efforts, perfecting the fluid, immersive quality that defined their early output.[11] Following the Black Barn sessions, the tracks were mixed at Swanyard Studios in London by Alan Moulder.[13]Release and promotion
Commercial performance
Today Forever was released on 4 March 1991 by Creation Records in the United Kingdom, available in formats including 12" vinyl, CD, and cassette.[2][9] The EP debuted at number 14 on the UK Singles Chart, marking Ride's highest charting release to that point, and spent a total of four weeks on the chart.[14][15] It also reached number 1 on the UK Indie Chart.[5] Ride's growing popularity following their debut album Nowhere contributed to the EP's success, with significant airplay on BBC Radio 1, including on John Peel's show, enhancing the band's indie scene credibility.[16][17] The band also appeared on The Chart Show on ITV around this time.[18]Video release
The accompanying video album for Ride's Today Forever EP was released on 18 March 1991, two weeks after the audio EP, and was directed primarily by James Deegan, with contributions from Angus Cameron and Kevin Kerslake. Produced by Angus Cameron, Max Abyss, and Silvey & Company, the video served as a visual companion to the EP's shoegaze sound, capturing the band's early aesthetic through a mix of performance and conceptual elements.[19] The UK edition, distributed by Creation Records on VHS in PAL format, ran for approximately 20 minutes and featured footage centered on the EP's four tracks: "Unfamiliar," "Sennen," "Beneath," and "Today." This version included live performances, studio sessions from the recording at Black Barn Studios in Ripley, and abstract visuals that evoked the immersive, hazy qualities of shoegaze.[20][9][21] In Japan, Pony Canyon handled distribution, issuing an expanded edition on both VHS and laserdisc in NTSC format, extending the runtime to about 35 minutes. This variant included videos for "Chelsea Girl," "Like a Daydream," "Taste," the four EP tracks ("Unfamiliar," "Sennen," "Beneath," "Today"), and "Vapour Trail." The longer format underscored Ride's burgeoning international presence, aligning with Pony Canyon's role in promoting UK indie acts in the region.[22][23]Music and lyrics
Style and influences
Today Forever exemplifies the core shoegaze genre with prominent dream pop elements, defined by its dense, layered guitar textures that create swirling, hypnotic soundscapes, often burying the vocals beneath waves of reverb and distortion while maintaining a propulsive rhythmic drive through prominent basslines and drumming.[10][2] This sonic palette aligns with shoegaze's emphasis on immersion and emotional abstraction, where the instruments dominate to evoke a sense of otherworldliness. Ride's style on the EP draws heavily from influential shoegaze pioneers, particularly My Bloody Valentine's noise-driven experimentation on albums like Isn't Anything, which introduced woozy tunings, buried vocals, and innovative effects that reshaped the genre.[24] Similarly, The Jesus and Mary Chain's Psychocandy provided a blueprint for feedback walls and sonic overload, elements Ride adapted by layering them with more melodic, accessible structures that distinguish their take on the sound.[24] These influences manifest in the EP's balance of raw noise and tuneful hooks, setting Ride apart within the early 1990s British scene. The EP marks an evolution in Ride's sound, transitioning from the raw, unpolished intensity of their initial EPs toward a more refined cohesion that feels album-like in its maturity, with cleaner production compared to the hazy murk of their debut Nowhere.[11]Track analysis
The Today Forever EP consists of four tracks, all written by Mark Gardener and Andy Bell.[2] The track listing is as follows:| No. | Title | Writers | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Unfamiliar | Gardener, Bell | 4:58 |
| 2 | Sennen | Gardener, Bell | 4:22 |
| 3 | Beneath | Gardener, Bell | 4:05 |
| 4 | Today | Gardener, Bell | 6:25 |