{"title":"After Dinner","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"paradise-of-replica","title":"Paradise Of Replica","description":"\u003cp\u003eAfter Dinner’s \u003ci\u003eParadise of Replica\u003c\/i\u003e is a concise nugget of tomfoolery that occupies a whimsical no man’s land between art pop, Japanese folk music and full-assed Art Zoydian avant proggery. Gentle, arcane and covertly sweeping, it typifies that friendly strain of experimentalism that Eastern music seems so predisposed towards and which curious minds find such great delight in. Assembled by the enigmatic chanteuse and composer known simply as Haco, After Dinner was less a band and more of a loose art collective that utilised a plurality of different musical disciplines stapled together through free improvisation sessions. And some of this does come through on \u003ci\u003eParadise of Replica\u003c\/i\u003e—the record is a scrapbook of bells, strings and koto humming under Haco’s ethereal vocals, and the effect, while perfectly tuneful, does come off more as a musical project than a conventional album. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBut \u003ci\u003eParadise of Replica\u003c\/i\u003e is far from an impenetrable scholastic endeavour—in fact, there’s something of an Elephant 6-like quality in its ability to warp conventions while still coming off more or less like pop music. Counter to the ramshackle hostility of much improvised music, After Dinner’s choices are melodious and feel deliberately sequenced. Even crescendos don’t tend to rise above a murmur, and there are even apparent hooks on tracks like “A Walnut” and “Ironclad Mermaid.” Ultimately, there’s not much to be said about \u003ci\u003eParadise of Replica\u003c\/i\u003e that can elucidate more than actually hearing it will be able to. Proggy, playful and lush, it’s a brief glimpse into something in the vicinity of genius, and just outside the realm of commercial music. It’s a quietly bold project that shows a softer side of the avant-garde, and makes a perfect companion to Stereolab and Magma at once.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Aguirre","offers":[{"title":"Black | LP","offer_id":50510226129227,"sku":"1162111","price":32.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/8211b77b-2431-44e0-aab0-9c8e79bf322a_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727871714"},{"product_id":"i-could-be-asleep-if-it-weren-t-for-you","title":"I Could Be Asleep If It Weren't For You","description":"\u003cp\u003eBefore Breakfast with their debut album \u003ci\u003eI Could Be Asleep If It Weren’t For You\u003c\/i\u003e. The Sheffield duo have always explored feminist issues through the telling of personal stories – fusing their classical knowledge and rich arrangements with raw expression. Their debut album is no exception to this, exploring themes that will resonate with many women in their 30s who are experiencing the shift in perspectives that this decade can bring. Before Breakfast are telling their story on their own terms, and backed by two new live band members as gig venues gradually open up again, the Sheffield band are going for it, with a debut that speaks to the stagnation, malaise, and static of the last “wasted” year. And as the world opens up again, \u003ci\u003eI Could Be Asleep If It Weren't For You\u003c\/i\u003e is a fitting soundtrack. “We’ve got the momentum” says Gina, “and we just want to do it.”\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"After Dinner","offers":[{"title":"Green | LP","offer_id":50530631450955,"sku":"1129463","price":22.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"CD","offer_id":50530632106315,"sku":"1129462","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/e5484f49-7a9e-465f-9496-36304f085194_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1728082067"}],"url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/collections\/after-dinner.oembed","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}