Lana Del Rey - Ride

Now, we always knew that Lana was going to go for epic and, with her brand new track ‘Ride’, she seems to have just about managed it. Taken from the forthcoming re-release of her debut album ‘Born To Die’ (also known as ‘The Paradise Edition’), ‘Ride’ comes at the head of the ‘new and original material’ section, and she’s not done too bad a job with it.

Produced by Grammy award winner Rick Rubin (who has worked with just about everyone, by the way, just in case you were wondering), the latest LDR track comes complete with a full ten-minute long cinematic mini-film. Thus, it takes us at least three minutes of a sultry monologue to even get to the track. Why even bother mentioning the video, you ask? Well, undoubtedly, the sun-drenched, Hollywood-esque visuals instantly colour the feeling of the track on first listen. Add in Lana’s dreamy tales of a troubled life and by the time her deep vocals step in, you’re almost coveting her character’s story entirely.

In contrast to the beauty magnified through the track’s build up, the song itself resounds of a melancholy blend of lost hope and irrevocable sadness. With the verses in Del Rey’s almost trademark deep, dulcet tones, the choruses soar with the freedom her character seems to gain from the simple pleasure of - doing as her lyrics say - just riding. (Don’t get any ideas…)

Couple it all with some beautiful string arrangements and an almost Kate Bush-like bridge and you have a perfect sonic representation of that old crazy mantra of loving life no matter what it throws at you. Not too shabby, LDR.