Roots & Echoes (studio album) by The Coral

Well that was a find! Last from The Coral I had yet to listen to and perhaps one of their best. This is a band which develops new strengths as they go along on their journey. No peak has been reached yet my friend, these ones are climbing! Two highlights are 'Who's Going To Find Me' and 'In The Rain'. The former contains a murder on the moors misty atmosphere crafted with songwriting goodness. If you are putting out albums at The Coral's height you should be pulling in the listeners from track one. After all you are not big enough to put any old garbage on the plate and you're small enough to get automatic relegation for one bad album. Yet at the same time you are called a "big band"? Hmm... Nevermind that, the whole attitude this album gives off is one of calm. Sure they can rush at times, switch the guitar amp up full, y'know that stuff? This 'calm' comes from the certainty of their abilities. With this album you find great songwriting and tight structures with the spirit of skiffle close by. 'In The Rain' is a concert hall scream and haunt of Dante proportions. 'Jaquleine' brings the charm of the deeper oceans and 'Remember Me' is a rumble down through the old wild west pictures you so often saw as a child. Top of their game and they only get better from here. Fantastic!