The Coral, Coral Island review
Roll up, roll up and step aboard the psychedelic, rollicking roller coaster ride that is ‘Coral Island’. A 24-track double album themed around the decline and fall of the country’s many weird and wonderful seaside resort towns.
Nearly 20 years on from their Mercury Prize nominated eponymous debut album, the 5-piece are back with melodies, harmonies, ghost trains, and nostalgic throwbacks aplenty. Offering up an out-of-time but not out of sync double album in the age of streaming.
Dreamed into reality (not up in a lonely room) as the 5- piece were travelling back from Blackpool, they had the idea to create their own fictional seaside town- full of all the local oddballs, fairground attractions, and eccentrics of yesteryear.
Frontman James Skelly explains that originally the album was meant to be split into two: “Welcome to Coral Island was meant to be the soundtracks on the rides, dodgems and bars and arcades, and The Ghost of Coral Island is when it closes down in the winter and the interesting characters are left behind. It’s got every side of The Coral in it. You segue between the tracks and bits of poetry, straight-up songs, weird rock’n’roll songs… everything’s on there.”
But after a bit of, some might say, sage advice from Indie Rock Godfather and perennial champion of the band Noel Gallagher, “You’re overthinking it. Fuck streamin”, the band decided to stick to their experimental roots, go their own way and release a double album.
Coral Island burst onto the map on the 30th April 2021, “somewhere between Seacombe Ferry and Llandudno”. Made up of 15 traditional songs, interspersed with 9 spoken word interjections or musings from ‘The Great Muriarty’- our avuncular tour guide, chaperoning us around the weird and wonderful musical landscape of Coral Island. Luring us in with his RichardBrier-like rhubarb and custard salty tones, telling tales about “music from another time. Another place maybe”.
‘Vacancy’, the latest single from the album, transports the listener back in time to the 60s with Nick Power’s keyboard riff reminiscent of one of legendary Doors’ organist-inchief Ray Mazarek’s own. Belted out with immediacy, Skelly’s vocals fit perfectly alongside the keyboard’s time travelling tones to make this a great track.
‘Lover Undiscovered’ is a foot stomping, guitar-powerpop-belter, complete with a chorus that tunnels straight into your subconscious. Firing out a bluesy feel that is just waiting to crystalise into a live set classic.
‘Autumn Has Come’ is a folksy ode to the deserted offseason empty fairgrounds. Skelly’s lyrics signifying a sombre change in mood. Guitarist Paul Molloy’s choice of a bağlama solo sits perfectly with the song’s lyrics and imagery of time marching on.
‘Old photographs’ is the sleeper hit of the album, a glorious Donovanesque moody paean that catches the wind of days gone by. An instant classic and an alliteration masterclass by Skelly (‘negatives of nowhere towns’, ‘sand scattered sea’) whose imagery is matched by the excellent ethereal harmonies.
To say we’re overwhelmed with the reaction to Coral Island would be an understatement. If you’d told us last month that a psychedelic double album about an imaginary seaside resort would push the top end of the charts we wouldn’t have believed you. (1/2)https://t.co/BXlGnx9KmM pic.twitter.com/SqnIwX2e7H
— The Coral (@thecoralband) May 4, 2021
Like musical pirates of the (Wirral) peninsular, the band sail with ease between Indie Rock, Mersey Beat, Psychedelia, and Folk. Cut off but still connected by their love for bands like The La’s, The Dead ’60s and The Beatles. Never landing the same spot and always keeping their audience interested.
Best enjoyed as an old school immersive experience, like listening to The Dark Side of the Moon; get your headphone’s on to drown out the busy sound of life and let the ineluctable musicality of The Coral’s harmonies take you to another place. But if you don’t have the time to spare all the tracks can be enjoyed singularly, served up like sugar dummies or candy floss at the fairground.
Unlike the bookmakers with the same moniker, this album won’t leave you feeling short changed.
Ladies and Gentlemen The Coral are back! Get on them!
Personally, I cannot wait to see how the album plays live. I will be begging, stealing, or borrowing to get tickets to their spiritual homecoming and headlining gig on the 5th of September at the Wirral Food, Drink and Music Festival.
To listen to and follow The Coral on social media click on the links in pink below.
Listen to The Coral, Coral Island on Spotify.
