The band were reportedly unhappy with their label Infectious Records, whose unwillingness to promote it extensively contributed towards its lower-than-expected chart placing.
Released 20 years ago this week in November 1998, reaching number 31 in the UK singles chart. Melodic, summery and lively, yet sad and resigned, the bittersweet 'Wild Surf' was one of the highlights from the second Ash album 'Nu-Clear Sounds'. Frontman Tim Wheeler explained: "I was reading Jack Kerouac's 'On The Road' while we were on the road and it really inspired this song. It's about living life, "burning like roman candles across the night". It means be positive and live your life well. Relax. The sound of it is sort of Nirvana meets The Beach Boys".