Listen: Andy Bell to release new single ‘Cherry Cola’

RIDE singer and guitarist Andy Bell has announced a second solo single, ‘Cherry Cola’, taken from his debut album The View From Halfway Down which was released last month to great acclaim.

Out on November 27, ‘Cherry Cola’ mixes folky guitar with an almost funky backing, which sounds not a million miles from The Beta Band, but was actually inspired by Andy’s love of Sault and their track ‘Living In America’. The single adds an acoustic version, which is more like the original iteration of the song, plus a new remix by Pye Corner Audio which adds a slow and subtle acid fizz to proceedings.

According to Andy, ‘Cherry Cola’ is the oldest song on The View From Halfway Down, and he first wrote it almost 20 years ago when he was living in Sweden. “It’s gone through many changes and rewrites since then,” he explains, “but it’s a very special song to me. It gives me a lovely sense of déjà vu. It’s not musical, it’s not a memory, it’s something in between and it’s very dreamlike.”

The remix came about after Andy met Pye Corner Audio, aka Martin Jenkins, at the Sonic Cathedral 15th birthday party in 2019.

Andy takes up the story: “Around this time last year (which seems like about 10 years ago now) I had a very excellent night out at The Social, where Sonic Cathedral were throwing a party for their 15th birthday. Music came from bdrmm (best new band around), a short appearance from myself, playing my debut single which had been released that day, and the excellent Pye Corner Audio, who I hadn’t heard before, along with a DJ set from Primal Scream’s Simone Marie Butler. Although it was all musically great, my highlight of the evening was the PCA set. At the aftershow, myself and Martin had a great chat over a few beers and decided to work together at some point. I couldn’t be happier that he has remixed ‘Cherry Cola’ and given it the full PCA treatment. I hope it’s the first of many collaborations…”