A COLLABORATIVE ALBUM BY ROBIN GUTHRIE (COCTEAU TWINS, VIOLET INDIANA) AND MARK GARDENER (RIDE, THE ANIMALHOUSE) HAS BEEN RELEASED THIS WEEK. UNIVERSAL ROAD FEATURES TEN TRACKS RECORDED AT GUTHRIE’S STUDIO IN NORTH-WEST FRANCE, AND FEATURES HIS DISTINCTIVE AND DREAM-STATE SOUNDSCAPES AS A SETTING FOR GARDENER’S SPIRITUALLY QUESTING LYRICS AND BEAUTIFULLY LAYERED HARMONIES. 

It follows the 2012 single THE PLACES WE GO, and in this new edition of The Mouthcast Gardener discusses how their collaboration developed. He recalls discovering the Cocteau Twins and his first meeting with Guthrie, and reflects on the process behind the making of UNIVERSAL ROAD – ferries and French roads, wine, cheese, books and shared experience of the rock ‘n’ roll burn-out.
UNIVERSAL ROAD is released in what is looking like Gardener’s busiest year yet. In the summer he plans to release an album containing a selection of his other collaborations but it’s the reformation of seminal shoegaze band Ride which is occupying most of his time.  Currently in rehearsal for a globe-spanning tour (which will take in America, Europe and the UK during the next few months) Gardener explains why now – nineteen years since their split – is the right time for a Ride reunion…

UNIVERSAL ROAD is out now. Order it (including a free copy of the single THE PLACES WE GO) here
For Ride’s 2015 tour dates – and ticket links – go here