Course In Fable Ryley Walker SKU: HPR008LP Barcode: 687368313296 24.00 £24.00 Genre: Rock And Pop Label: Husky Pants Records Released Date: 28th May 2021 Buying Format: 1LP Add to basket Reserve Add to your Wishlist Description Product Info Ryley Walker currently resides in New York City. But his latest LP is a Chicago record in spirit. The masterful Course In Fable, the songwriter’s fifth solo effort, draws from the deep well of that city’s fertile 1990s scene, when bands like Tortoise, The Sea and Cake and Gastr del Sol were reshaping the underground, mixing and matching indie rock, jazz, prog and beyond. Walker spent his formative years in Chicago, absorbing those heady sounds and finding ways to make them his own. Even though he emerged at first in folkrock troubadour mode, it makes sense that he’s arrived at this point; each LP has grown more intricate and assured, his influences distilling into something original and unusual. To put it simply: Course In Fable is Walker’s best record yet, full of active imagination and endless possibilities. Last October, Ryley went straight to one of the primary architects of the Chicago sound to make the LP. John McEntire, Course In Fable’s producer/engineer/ mixer, can rightly be called a legend for his work with Tortoise, Stereolab, The Red Krayola, Jim O’Rourke and countless others over a prolific career that now spans more than three decades. Seeing his name in an album’s liners is pretty much a trademark of quality. Another Windy City exile, McEntire is based on the west coast these days, working out of the Portland, OR studio he’s dubbed Soma West. On the seven songs here, he delivers the signature shimmering and pristine sonics he’s become known for over the years. But McEntire was also intimately involved with Course In Fable’s overall creative process. “I told him to take the mixes and have at it,” Walker says. The result is a rich, immersive affair — a headphones record if ever there was one. Course In Fable’s songs are twisty, labyrinthine things, stuffed full of ideas (Walker half-jokingly calls it his “prog record”). But no matter how complex it gets, the album is never overwhelmingly busy. Wiry guitars melt into gorgeous string sections (arranged by Douglas Jenkins of the Portland Cello Project). Tricky time signatures abound but feel as natural as can be. Melodies often drift in unexpected directions but remain downright hummable. Like Walker’s beloved Genesis, the pop element is never too far from the surface even when shit gets weird. (And speaking of weird, Ryley says that in addition to Genesis, much of the album’s inspiration comes from “Australian extreme scooter riders on YouTube and balding gear heads on Craigslist.” Go figure.) To help put together these various puzzle pieces, Ryley assembled a band made up of several longtime collaborators. Bill MacKay (another Chicago mainstay) and Walker have made two excellent instrumental duo records of interlocking guitars and warm give-and-take — a rapport very much in evidence throughout Course In Fable. The freakishly talented drummer Ryan Jewell has performed with Walker for years now in a variety of seangs, from straightforward song-centric sets to blown-out improv extravaganzas. Bassist Andrew Scott Young (Tiger Hatchery, Health&Beauty) has logged many miles on tour with Walker; he and Jewell are frequently astonishing, a buoyant-but-always-locked-in rhythm section, able to navigate sometimes dizzying turnarounds with apparent ease. Listening to the interplay between Walker and these musicians and you might be fooled into thinking they’d spent a year roadtesting Course In Fable’s songs. But it all came together relatively fast, thanks to demos, rehearsals and the kind of musical empathy that comes from years of playing together. Beneath the wondrous interplay, you’ll find some of Walker’s most personal – if still typically cryptic — lyrics, hinting at some of the trials the songwriter has been dealing with in recent years. Balanced with necessary doses of dark humor and oddball poetry, Course In Fable feels most of all like a life-affirming record, fresh air in the lungs, sun on your skin. “Fuck me, I’m alive,” Ryley sings at one point, a moment of both disbelief and pure joy. Walker has released his albums on a who’s-who of independent labels over the past decade — Tompkins Square, Dead Oceans, Thrill Jockey and Drag City among them. This time around, he’s doing it DIY-style, puang Course In Fable out on his own Husky Pants imprint. You’re in good hands. This is an album that sounds great (mastered by Greg Calbi), looks great (artwork by Jenny Nelson and design by Michael Vallera). It probably even smells great. Whether you’ve been onboard since the beginning or are new to the Ryley Walker universe, you’re in for a treat. Artist Ryley Walker Genre Rock And Pop Label Husky Pants Records Buying Options 1LP Format 1LP Condition New Country UK Track Listings 1. Striking Your Big Premier (5:10) 2. Rang Dizzy (4:50) 3. A Lenticular Slap (7:54) 4. Axis Bent (4:36) 5. Clad With Bunk (6:15) 6. Pond Scum Ocean (8:05) 7. Shiva With Dustpan (5:43) Share this On Facebook On Twitter Via Email More from Ryley Walker and more from Rock And Pop View Product Quick View Ryley Walker Deafman Glance Rock And Pop | Dead Oceans | 1LP, Includes Download Code Released 15th May 2018 £19.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Ryley Walker Deafman Glance £19.00 Genre: Rock And Pop Label: Dead Oceans SKU: DOC160LP Formats: 1LP, Includes Download Code Released Date: 15th May 2018 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Ryley Walker Primrose Green Rock And Pop | Dead Oceans | 1LP, Includes Download Code Released 25th March 2015 £16.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Ryley Walker Primrose Green £16.00 Genre: Rock And Pop Label: Dead Oceans SKU: DOC101LP Formats: 1LP, Includes Download Code Released Date: 25th March 2015 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Ryley Walker Golden Sings That Have Been Sung Rock And Pop | Dead Oceans | 1LP, Includes Download Code Released 16th August 2016 £19.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Ryley Walker Golden Sings That Have Been Sung £19.00 Genre: Rock And Pop Label: Dead Oceans SKU: DOC121LP Formats: 1LP, Includes Download Code Released Date: 16th August 2016 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Ryley Walker All Kinds Of You Rock And Pop | Tomkins Square | 1LP Released 14th April 2014 £16.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Ryley Walker All Kinds Of You £16.00 Genre: Rock And Pop Label: Tomkins Square SKU: TSQ3175 Formats: 1LP Released Date: 14th April 2014 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Paul's picks View Product Quick View Coral, The Coral Island Rock And Pop | Run On Records | 2LP, Coloured Vinyl, Gatefold Sleeve Released 30th April 2021 £23.00 - £25.00 Select options Coral, The Coral Island £23.00 - £25.00 Genre: Rock And Pop Label: Run On Records Formats: 2LP, Coloured Vinyl, Gatefold Sleeve Released Date: 30th April 2021 Read More Select options View Product Quick View Bob Dylan Love and Theft Rock And Pop | We Are Vinyl | 2LP, Includes Download Code Released 7th December 2017 £21.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Bob Dylan Love and Theft £21.00 Genre: Rock And Pop Label: We Are Vinyl SKU: 88985455291 Formats: 2LP, Includes Download Code Released Date: 7th December 2017 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Tall Firs Out Of It And Into It Rock And Pop | ATP Recordings | 1LP Released 12th March 2012 £14.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Tall Firs Out Of It And Into It £14.00 Genre: Rock And Pop Label: ATP Recordings SKU: ATPRLP43 Formats: 1LP Released Date: 12th March 2012 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Turtles, The Golden Hits – Vol 1 Rock And Pop | Manifesto | 1LP, Coloured Vinyl Released 20th January 2017 £19.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Turtles, The Golden Hits – Vol 1 £19.00 Genre: Rock And Pop Label: Manifesto SKU: MFO48050 Formats: 1LP, Coloured Vinyl Released Date: 20th January 2017 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Justin Sullivan Navigating By The Stars Rock And Pop | Earmusic | 2LP, Gatefold Sleeve Released 28th May 2021 £26.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Justin Sullivan Navigating By The Stars £26.00 Genre: Rock And Pop Label: Earmusic SKU: 0215826EMU Formats: 2LP, Gatefold Sleeve Released Date: 28th May 2021 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Oasis Heathen Chemistry Rock And Pop | Big Brother | 180g, 2LP, 45rpm, Gatefold Sleeve Released 13th July 2009 £25.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Oasis Heathen Chemistry £25.00 Genre: Rock And Pop Label: Big Brother SKU: RKIDLP25X Formats: 180g, 2LP, 45rpm, Gatefold Sleeve Released Date: 13th July 2009 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Emmy The Great April / 月音 Rock And Pop | Bella Union | 180g, 1LP, Includes Download Code Released 9th October 2020 £19.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Emmy The Great April / 月音 £19.00 Genre: Rock And Pop Label: Bella Union SKU: BELLA1080V Formats: 180g, 1LP, Includes Download Code Released Date: 9th October 2020 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Captain Beefheart And The Magic Band Doc At The Radar Station Rock And Pop | Music On Vinyl | 180g, 1LP Released 12th February 2021 £23.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Captain Beefheart And The Magic Band Doc At The Radar Station £23.00 Genre: Rock And Pop Label: Music On Vinyl SKU: MOVLP2787 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 12th February 2021 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Arthur Russell Iowa Dream Rock And Pop | Rough Trade | 1LP Released 26th November 2021 £23.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Arthur Russell Iowa Dream £23.00 Genre: Rock And Pop Label: Rough Trade SKU: RT0264LP Formats: 1LP Released Date: 26th November 2021 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Gogol Bordello Seekers and Finders – Indies Only Marbled Vinyl Rock And Pop | Cooking Vinyl | 1LP, Coloured Vinyl, Includes Download Code Released 25th August 2017 £22.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Gogol Bordello Seekers and Finders – Indies Only Marbled Vinyl £22.00 Genre: Rock And Pop Label: Cooking Vinyl SKU: COOKLP674M Formats: 1LP, Coloured Vinyl, Includes Download Code Released Date: 25th August 2017 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders See more in Rock And Pop Start again
View Product Quick View Ryley Walker Deafman Glance Rock And Pop | Dead Oceans | 1LP, Includes Download Code Released 15th May 2018 £19.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Ryley Walker Deafman Glance £19.00 Genre: Rock And Pop Label: Dead Oceans SKU: DOC160LP Formats: 1LP, Includes Download Code Released Date: 15th May 2018 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Ryley Walker Primrose Green Rock And Pop | Dead Oceans | 1LP, Includes Download Code Released 25th March 2015 £16.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Ryley Walker Primrose Green £16.00 Genre: Rock And Pop Label: Dead Oceans SKU: DOC101LP Formats: 1LP, Includes Download Code Released Date: 25th March 2015 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Ryley Walker Golden Sings That Have Been Sung Rock And Pop | Dead Oceans | 1LP, Includes Download Code Released 16th August 2016 £19.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Ryley Walker Golden Sings That Have Been Sung £19.00 Genre: Rock And Pop Label: Dead Oceans SKU: DOC121LP Formats: 1LP, Includes Download Code Released Date: 16th August 2016 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Ryley Walker All Kinds Of You Rock And Pop | Tomkins Square | 1LP Released 14th April 2014 £16.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Ryley Walker All Kinds Of You £16.00 Genre: Rock And Pop Label: Tomkins Square SKU: TSQ3175 Formats: 1LP Released Date: 14th April 2014 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
Paul's picks View Product Quick View Coral, The Coral Island Rock And Pop | Run On Records | 2LP, Coloured Vinyl, Gatefold Sleeve Released 30th April 2021 £23.00 - £25.00 Select options Coral, The Coral Island £23.00 - £25.00 Genre: Rock And Pop Label: Run On Records Formats: 2LP, Coloured Vinyl, Gatefold Sleeve Released Date: 30th April 2021 Read More Select options
View Product Quick View Bob Dylan Love and Theft Rock And Pop | We Are Vinyl | 2LP, Includes Download Code Released 7th December 2017 £21.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Bob Dylan Love and Theft £21.00 Genre: Rock And Pop Label: We Are Vinyl SKU: 88985455291 Formats: 2LP, Includes Download Code Released Date: 7th December 2017 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Tall Firs Out Of It And Into It Rock And Pop | ATP Recordings | 1LP Released 12th March 2012 £14.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Tall Firs Out Of It And Into It £14.00 Genre: Rock And Pop Label: ATP Recordings SKU: ATPRLP43 Formats: 1LP Released Date: 12th March 2012 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Turtles, The Golden Hits – Vol 1 Rock And Pop | Manifesto | 1LP, Coloured Vinyl Released 20th January 2017 £19.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Turtles, The Golden Hits – Vol 1 £19.00 Genre: Rock And Pop Label: Manifesto SKU: MFO48050 Formats: 1LP, Coloured Vinyl Released Date: 20th January 2017 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Justin Sullivan Navigating By The Stars Rock And Pop | Earmusic | 2LP, Gatefold Sleeve Released 28th May 2021 £26.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Justin Sullivan Navigating By The Stars £26.00 Genre: Rock And Pop Label: Earmusic SKU: 0215826EMU Formats: 2LP, Gatefold Sleeve Released Date: 28th May 2021 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Oasis Heathen Chemistry Rock And Pop | Big Brother | 180g, 2LP, 45rpm, Gatefold Sleeve Released 13th July 2009 £25.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Oasis Heathen Chemistry £25.00 Genre: Rock And Pop Label: Big Brother SKU: RKIDLP25X Formats: 180g, 2LP, 45rpm, Gatefold Sleeve Released Date: 13th July 2009 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Emmy The Great April / 月音 Rock And Pop | Bella Union | 180g, 1LP, Includes Download Code Released 9th October 2020 £19.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Emmy The Great April / 月音 £19.00 Genre: Rock And Pop Label: Bella Union SKU: BELLA1080V Formats: 180g, 1LP, Includes Download Code Released Date: 9th October 2020 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Captain Beefheart And The Magic Band Doc At The Radar Station Rock And Pop | Music On Vinyl | 180g, 1LP Released 12th February 2021 £23.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Captain Beefheart And The Magic Band Doc At The Radar Station £23.00 Genre: Rock And Pop Label: Music On Vinyl SKU: MOVLP2787 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 12th February 2021 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Arthur Russell Iowa Dream Rock And Pop | Rough Trade | 1LP Released 26th November 2021 £23.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Arthur Russell Iowa Dream £23.00 Genre: Rock And Pop Label: Rough Trade SKU: RT0264LP Formats: 1LP Released Date: 26th November 2021 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Gogol Bordello Seekers and Finders – Indies Only Marbled Vinyl Rock And Pop | Cooking Vinyl | 1LP, Coloured Vinyl, Includes Download Code Released 25th August 2017 £22.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Gogol Bordello Seekers and Finders – Indies Only Marbled Vinyl £22.00 Genre: Rock And Pop Label: Cooking Vinyl SKU: COOKLP674M Formats: 1LP, Coloured Vinyl, Includes Download Code Released Date: 25th August 2017 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders