The Coral - Move through the dawn

Liverpudlians The Coral have just released their 9th album "Move through the dawn". The band formed in 1996 and came to the forefront of the British indie scene in the early 2000s with their breakout self titled debut album featuring indie classic "Dreaming of you" along with many other jangly, inticing pop numbers.  Despite not seeing them live in their early days I was keen on their first few albums. After that for me, although they kept releasing albums, they kind of disappeared a bit. And they did actually go on a hiatus for a while.

That was until this year when they seemed to have got themselves back on the map. I caught them supporting the Manic Street Preachers earlier this year and was very impressed. Although "Dreaming of you" still appears to be their best song. There was enough other good material on show to make me investigate some previous releases, most notably there previous album to this one "Distance inbetween".  They did play one new song at that gig "Sweet release" which does feature on this album but to be honest at the time it did feel like one of the weaker tracks on the night.  So that being said I wasn't all that excited about this album but at the same time I was happy to give it a listen and be proved wrong when it came out.

So that's what I did and I have to say I was pleanstly surprised in a very good way. The last album seemed to focus more on guitar wizardry and more rock.  This is for me the most accessible album I have heard by them. It also feels like they have not gone for the approach of making all out singles. But instead a collection of songs that fit together. I'm not saying the sound exactly the same. There are some up tempo songs, there are more tender songs. But the general feel of the album is consistent throughout and that is what makes this album so good. 

I did mention that I didn't really like "Sweet release" when I heard it live and even when I gave it a few listens when it came out as a single. But I have to say it has grown on me and I do think that its because it fits so well with the rest of the songs on the album. Other highlights include opener "Eyes Like Pearls" and the closer "At the fair" which is a majestic acousitic track.  I don't really listen to the radio these days but due to the type of tracks and the quality of the tracks I can see this being played by a variety of radio stations from XFM to Radio 2.

Overall this was a really nice suprise.  Even though the last album "Distance inbetween" got me to sit up and pay attention to The Coral again. With this album I really do feel they have stepped it up a notch and is my favourite Coral album I have listened to.