"Vapour Trail" is written in
standard tuning, with the main riff constructed from a four
chord pattern (C♯ minor–B–A–E) which opens the song and repeats throughout, characterized by the distinct sound of two
Rickenbacker 12-string guitars. The guitar sound on the song has been the subject of much debate. Fans have stated the use of
compression,
flanger, and
chorus effects as the closest ways to emulate the
trebly rhythm sound. However, according to Bell, no actual effects were used to achieve the sound, and that it was purely the two 12-stringed guitars. Bell said of the song: 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. Played alongside the main guitar melody is a
droning E
power chord and a
bassline consisting of the same chord sequence as the main riff. A heavy drum beat centered around
fills and
syncopation on the
snare and
tom-toms, a signature part of drummer Laurence "Loz" Colbert's style, is also a major force of the song's composition. After two verses and two choruses, the song closes with a nearly two-minute string-laden instrumental coda. The guitars, bass, and drums gradually fade out, leaving only the repeated violin and cello
motif. Bell sings lead vocals on the song, something rare among the band's early material. ==Release and reception==