Cover version of the month #116
Trespassers William covers Ride's Vapour Trail
Trust me #110 - Vapour Trail by Ride
I started revisiting, reading and writing about Ride's blissful Vapour Trail for my Trust Me series and playlist. I'm still going to add it to that playlist. However, while researching the song, I discovered a gorgeous slow burning cover by a band called Trespassers Williams, hence, Vapour Trail is added to my cover version of the month series and playlist. Read on!
Ride burst on to the independent music scene in 1990 with a trilogy of EP's and debut album Nowhere. Aged between 18-20, the band seemed to be in their own world. Andy Bell, Mark Gardner (guitars and vocals), Steve Queralt (bass) and Loz Colbert (drums) looked fantastic, like a real gang and the four friends had a clear vision for their sound and values.
Many labels were in the race to sign Ride from early doors, but Creation Records was the label Ride wanted - The Mary Chain and My Bloody Valentine being crucial factors. There is a great section on Creation chasing and getting Ride in the magnificent Creation book My Magpie Eyes Are Hungry For The Prize by David Cavanagh.
Vapour Trail, the closing song on Nowhere, seems so perfectly formed. Magical. If Ride's EP's and much of their debut album had a wall of noise that marked them as shoegazers, Vapour Trail had more space, a string quartet and a crystaline, chiming 12-string riff that really highlighted the bands development and maturity.
The song rides in on warm chords and Andy Bell singing the first line before the band fall in behind him.
First you look so strong, then you fade away
The sun will blind my eyes, I'll love you anyway
Thirsty for your smile, I watch you for a while
You are a vapour trail, in a deep blue sky
There are only 2 verses, with Bell singing about a love that seems to be fleeting (like a vapour trail), while he wants more. Each verse is followed by a la, la, la, la, la refrain. i particularly like the third line in the second verse - Bell is all in.
Tremble with a sigh, glitter in your eye
You seem to come and go, I never seem to know
And all my time is yours as much mine
We never have enough time to show our love
"I remember writing the riff in a hotel room on a very early Ride tour. We were in a bed and breakfast type scenario, and I was sitting on a bed with an acoustic to get that four-chord pattern which is really very simple. It’s played on two 12-strings. People seem to be quite interested with the guitar sound on this record, if there are fades or effects, but there’s not; it’s just two 12-strings. It’s just one of those magical songs. That’s the one that everyone talks about on the album in my experience. These songs are the easiest to write and the ones that you don’t really think about at the time. It came out so easily and it has that effortless feel to it. I guess it is the one I’m most proud of from that era." Andy Bell
The second refrain finishes just before the 2-minute mark and everything cuts to leave the guitars before the drums come crashing back in, bass underpinning everything. Then comes the gorgeous string quartet over the top, the guitars continue to chime, the drums are cool and the bass is holding it all.
Ride are lost in the music and invite the listener to do the same, letting things flow for almost 2-minutes before the guitars and Loz's ferocious drumming cut to leave the string quartet to play the song out. Sublime! Heart-achingly beautiful.
As mentioned above, I've recently discovered a gorgeous slow burning cover of Vapour Trail by Trespassers William who released their version as a single in 2003. The song also featured on the Bella Union UK version of second album Different Stars, that was initially a self release in 2002.
Anna-Lynne Williams and Matt Brown are the two constant members in the band, who released three albums between 1999 and 2006. Cast, a compilation album of b-sides and rarities came out in 2012.
How on earth do you cover Vapour Trail?!
Well, Trespassers William don't just show their love for the song by playing and replicating it. Instead, they slow the whole thing down, it's a dreamy swoon. Anna-Lynne Williams has a voice that sounds like a secret being whispered in your ear. It’s fragile, melancholic, and utterly captivating. You can tell they've spent a lot of time with this song.
Gentle and persistent piano, reverb-drenched vocals, distant echoes of slide(?) guitar, then a little jangle, before a solo is introduced over the top. Oooft this gives me the tingles.
If Ride's version is a teenage Andy Bell writing about the excitement of new love and infatuation, the Trespassers William cover is like a heart-aching reflection of a love that's long gone, but fondly remembered.
Utterly gorgeous. Enjoy.
Ride's original and the Trespassers William cover of Vapour Trail are added to my Everything Flows Cool Cover Versions playlist on Spotify which also features all of the songs listed below. Search for the title or CLICK HERE I've also added it to my Trust Me playlist.
Previous covers of the month blogs
40. Jumpin' Jack Flash
44. Witchi Tai To
45. Our Lips Are Sealed
46. Sunshine Of Your Love
47. Here Comes The Sun
48. I Think We're Alone Now
49. Don't Let Me Down
50. It's Oh So Quiet
51. Alcoholiday
52. Summer Holiday
53. Who Do You Think You Are?
54. Head On
55. Nothing Compares 2 U
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