Based around the nucleus of brainchild Oly Ralfe and musical fail Andrew Mitchell, RALFE BAND continue on their quest to weird the larger populace into submission with their new single 'Attics'.
As with much of their output, it's one of those great excursions where genius and madness struggle for supremacy, but it's ridiculously engaging too. There again, how many bands existing in the cold light of the nu-recessionary 2009 would think it feasible to release a polka-tinged instrumental as their new single? Or rope in what sounds like a passing troupe of Georgian cossacks to add Gregorian backing chants? Rhetorical question, methinks, but with its' scrubbed acoustic guitars, skirling violin, rippling pianos and Harry Lime-style zither, 'Attics' is a veritable carny which should still be blasting out of radios up and down the land if there's any justice left at all.
Nominal flipside 'Stumble”s no artistic slouch, neither, even if it does rattle'n'roll and lurch around like a tramp in graveyard, possibly literally actually, as Ralfe's lyrics speak of a “stumble in the graveyard...so tired of the laughter, think I'll lie on this stone.” Whatever the true meaning, its' spirited fairground organ, zany harpsichords and marching drums make for fine, folky Alt.Pop of a dazzling hue and offer you a swig of Meths you'll be glad you indulged in.
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Just an aside, but did you know that Oly Ralfe also contributes to The Mighty Boosh? No surprise, really, 'cos his fruit loop take on real life is ideal in such talented company. Nonetheless, it's good to know his off-kilter talents are beginning to infiltrate the public water system. Long may the contamination continue.
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