Album Review: The Coral Distance Inbetween

Imagine you’re ‘2000 Light Years From Home’ and you’ve ‘Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun’.

Now try to picture the distance between those points: a gulf of cosmic loneliness. The Coral have been exploring this ocean of emptiness for the last five years and have crash-landed – back to earth – with their eight album.

In truth the title is probably more about alienation than an alien-nation, and – as you may have guessed – they haven’t been voyaging in space at all. Rather, they’ve been on a self-imposed five year hiatus, during which time they’ve all kept busy with various side-projects. They appear to have returned invigorated and focused.

The plangent folk-rock guitars of yore have been jettisoned in favour of scuzzy tones and loping grooves, while still retaining the familiar blissed-out vocal harmonies. The decision to play live in the studio puts the emphasis on the rhythm section, and the stripped-back arrangements give the material a gnarlier, bluesy edge than their earlier hit-yielding albums.

First single ‘Chasing The Tail Of A Dream’ signals intentions with its Nick Masonesque floor-tom rhythms and glacial Hammond organ, cherry-topped with fuzzed-up guitars.

The Coral appear to inhabit an alternate universe – a crazy mixed-up one where even the guitars are backwards – and where it is forever the ‘60s. There are riches to be plundered there, but The Coral still manage to impress what they salvage with their own unique stamp.

Key Track: 'Million Eyes'

Out March 4 on Ignition Records

6/10