The Coral have laid out plans for new album ‘Sea Of Mirrors’.
The band’s wonderful double album ‘Coral Island’ was a huge critical success on its 2021 release, a carefully woven feast of psych-pop songwriting. The creativity hasn’t dimmed, however, and the group’s new album ranks as one of their most ambitious.
Out on September 8th, ‘Sea Of Mirrors’ is a kind of imaginary soundtrack to a ‘lost’ Spaghetti Western, referencing long-time influence Ennio Morricone in the process. Guests include actors Cillian Murphy and John Simm, while Love guitarist Johnny Echols and former Coral member Bill Ryder-Jones both contribute.
Co-produced alongside Sean O’Hagan, the record lands on September 8th, with lead single ‘Wild Bird’ setting out their stall. You can certainly hear the cinematic aspects, yet ‘Wild Bird’ also leans in to The Coral’s thirst for melody, and their unique grasp for storytelling within music.
James Skelly comments:
“Like most of The Coral’s best known songs you could pick out, it was written in about five minutes. Once the album concept was clear, this was us imagining the theme tune for an Italian western directed by Fellini with a Richard Yates-written script. It’s us asking ourselves: what would have happened if Lee Hazlewood had produced a Gene Pitney song written by Townes Van Zandt?”
As if that wasn’t enough, The Coral are also planning to release new project ‘Holy Joe’s Coral Island Medicine Show’ as a physical only artefact. Two Coral albums in one year – a true feast!
Check out ‘Wild Bird’ below.
