Meanwhile, the novelist treads a subtle line between reinforcing this old mindset and revealing its limitations.

ECONOMIST: New Irish fiction

Little Ann's 40-year-old single "Deep Shadows, " produced by Detroit's Dave Hamilton, is a marvel of subtle understatement, built around little more than a bass line, a slight tinkle of piano, a cutting guitar line and, most notably, those bells, which ring loud and portend nothing auspicious.

NPR: Little Ann: 40 Years Later, An Unlikely Resurrection

From enjoying a movie on a hotel room TV to hearing an announcement in an airport security line, audio speakers are a subtle necessity for a smooth and pleasant trip.

BBC: 3D audio may revolutionise travel

Still, Mr. Vetri warns, the line between a creative and cuckoo pizza can be subtle.

WSJ: Homemade Pizza Recipes: Pizza Perfect

Fayed's subtle innovations have culminated in the Turnbull brand, a more casual line comprising limited-edition suits and separates, made with a more structured fit than the classic cuts that inspired them.

WSJ: The British Are Coming!