{"product_id":"achilles-was-a-hound-dog","title":"Achilles Was a Hound Dog","description":"\u003cp\u003e15 years ago, \u003cstrong\u003eRalfe Band\u003c\/strong\u003e delivered two opuses of fragile but colourful beauty. \u003cem\u003eSwords\u003c\/em\u003e (2005) and \u003cem\u003eAttic Thieves\u003c\/em\u003e (2008) guided the listener through imaginary landscapes that owe as much to Appalachian folk as to Balkan music. A tasty mix, sometimes burlesque, sometimes bucolic, but always dreamy and mischievous.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTen years have passed since \u003cstrong\u003eRalfe Band\u003c\/strong\u003e's third album \u003cem\u003eSon Be Wise\u003c\/em\u003e (2013). In the meantime, \u003cstrong\u003eOly Ralfe\u003c\/strong\u003e has recorded a solo instrumental disc, \u003cem\u003eNotes From Another Sea\u003c\/em\u003e (2018), a collection of piano pieces, then a live opus with a classical ensemble (\u003cem\u003eLive at St Pancras Old Church\u003c\/em\u003e, 2020), finally a rowdy single \"\u003cem\u003eSweating It Out\u003c\/em\u003e\" (2019). Enigmatic, far from any calculations or constraints imposed by the industry, the musician demonstrates a philosophy of \"Life follows its course, events can call into question a straight line, and everything can take much longer than you think\".\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAchilles Was A Hound Dog\u003c\/em\u003e reshuffles the cards, for our pleasure. In the singular universe of \u003cstrong\u003eOly Ralfe\u003c\/strong\u003e, these ten compositions open up new perspectives. The introductory \"\u003cem\u003ePale Fire\u003c\/em\u003e\" (taking its title from Nabokov's novel of the same name) is an addictive windswept anthem. \"I felt nervously alert; Suspicious without knowing why\" sings \u003cstrong\u003eOly\u003c\/strong\u003e. Dreams, stories of metamorphosis, redemption by nature and love on \"\u003cem\u003eMore Than Enough\u003c\/em\u003e\": \"I am a pelican, I am a cormorant, I am a drifting shark\".\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Talitres","offers":[{"title":"White LP","offer_id":50467090989387,"sku":"2022366","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":50467088466251,"sku":"2022357","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"LP","offer_id":50467090006347,"sku":"2022365","price":22.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/TAL127LPXP_631c101f_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727335147","url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/de\/products\/achilles-was-a-hound-dog","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}