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The Coral Get Knocked Down, Get Up Again

9:53 AM GMT 28/07/2010

The Coral
Wilton's Music Hall, London
July 27, 2010

Tonight, MOJO Club returns to our favourite London venue to welcome magical Merseyside melodists The Coral.

But first, here's Coral-cousin Neville Skelly - a singer-songwriter who's just getting better and better. MOJO last heard his spellbinding croon at the Jazz Café in June, but even in that short period, the one-time cruise ship Sinatra-impersonator seems to have tapped into a new confidence that makes his Dion-esque ballads shimmer and shine. If you haven't already, seek him out.

Having recently navigated their way around a series of obstacles - including the departure of original guitarist Bill Ryder-Jones and rejection by Sony (a blessing in disguise perhaps?) - the band have re-emerged with one of the finest albums of their career. Butterfly House blends melodic folk-rock, baroque orch-pop and west coast psychedelia to startling effect and provides the bulk of tonight's set. More Than A Lover and Roving Jewel are haunting masterclasses in '60s flavoured pop driven by perfect harmonies, prickly guitars and James Skelly's soulful baritone.

Flanked by a huge array of vintage amps, The Coral conjure a sound that chimes perfectly with the ornate dilapidation of Wilton's beautiful main chamber. The band remain fanatical sonic obsessives and James Skelly and Lee Southall insist on changing guitars after every song (hats off to the two techs!). Later, the cool zephyrs of Falling All Around You and Walking In The Winter are matched by the freak-out hoopla of North Parade, a pugilistic Dreaming Of You and the funfair weirdness of Simon Diamond - the latter reminding the sold-out crowd just how far the Coral have come in the last decade.

Never a group to engage in banter with their audience - in Coral World the music most definitely does the talking - they leave the stage with a quick, sincere "nice one, cheers!" The Coral have regrouped, found their feet and are playing the best they've ever played. They seem confident and content; still in search of weird chords, still turning lost albums and hidden heroes into essential influences. Long may their voyage continue.

Ross Bennett

Photos courtesy of Simon Fernandez

Posted by Ross_Bennett at 9:53 AM GMT 28/07/2010

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The Coral

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  • Long live the Coral! Best UK band by far.

    Posted by Jonjo at 1:24 PM GMT 28/07/2010 Report Abuse

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  • The best UK band around by far, great musicians, great melodies, great harmonies.....great band!

    Posted by Jay at 3:34 PM GMT 28/07/2010 Report Abuse

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  • Fantastic band! Great album as well.

    Posted by Filthy Mc Nasty at 1:53 PM GMT 29/07/2010 Report Abuse

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  • We love the Coral in the US, too! I'm in Boulder, Colorado - home of smelly hippies, Birkenstocks and a severe lack of Coral fans.

    Posted by Mister Ease at 10:03 PM GMT 02/09/2010 Report Abuse

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  • RE: Mister Ease I'm in Washington, DC and love The Coral too! In this town of stuffy out-of-touch politicians, the gorgeous music of The Coral is a rare bright spot! Completely under-rated band.

    Posted by Hollings at 1:59 PM GMT 24/09/2010 Report Abuse

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