RIDE, Supplied
First wave shoegazers RIDE are big fans of Australian music.
Led by singer/guitarists Mark Gardener and Andy Bell, RIDE formed in Oxford in 1988. Their debut album, 1990’s Nowhere, and its follow-up, 1992’s Going Blank Again, are pioneering works of shoegaze.
RIDE first visited Australia in 1991, but their love of Australian music predated their maiden voyage to the country. Brisbane indie legends The Go-Betweens were a major early influence on the band, and they were so enchanted by Melbourne-via-London dark wave duo Dead Can Dance that they covered their song “Severance” for a BBC radio session in 1990.
RIDE split up in 1996. Gardener and drummer Loz Colbert formed the short-lived band Animalhouse, while Bell joined Oasis and later played in Liam Gallagher’s Beady Eye. RIDE reformed nearly two decades after their split, and they’ve since released three more albums, including 2024’s Interplay.
Here, Bell and RIDE bass player Steve Queralt tell us their all-time favourite Australian songs.
SEE ALSO: Essential Australian albums recorded by Steve Albini
Steve Queralt’s favourite Australian songs
The Church – “Under The Milky Way”
Such a great tune. I remember thinking they were Australia’s answer to The House of Love at the time. This track and “Mull of Kintyre” are the only acceptable use for bagpipes.
Dead Can Dance – “Sanvean”
We covered “Severance,” a Dead Can Dance song, for a radio session in the early 90s as we were all massively into them. Lisa Gerrard has a voice like no other and it’s a truly moving experience to see her perform live.
The Go-Betweens – “Streets Of Your Town”
This was a big track for RIDE back in 1988 when we were first starting out.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds feat. Kylie Minogue – “Where The Wild Roses Grow”
Two of Australia’s greatest artists on one track. It’d be easy to assign Kylie to the guilty pleasure category, but every so often she pops up with a true classic.
Andy Bell's favourite Australian songs
Tame Impala – “Desire Be Desire Go”
You Am I – “Cathy’s Clown”
Divinyls – “I Touch Myself”
The Avalanches – “Frontier Psychiatrist”
The Moffs – “Another Day In The Sun”
