The Coral

The Coral, formed in 1996 in Hoylake, England, are known for jangling guitars, James Skelly's powerful vocals, and a sound blending '60s garage rock, psychedelic pop, folk-rock, and bits of Merseybeat and blues. Their 2002 self-titled debut topped the U.K. charts, and they stayed inventive across albums like Nightfreak and the Sons of Becker (2004), The Invisible Invasion (2005), Distance Inbetween (2016), Coral Island (2021), and Sea of Mirrors (2023).

The band's lineup of Skelly, guitarists, bassist Paul Duffy, drummer, and later keyboardist Nick Power, released early singles and EPs on a label founded by mentor Alan Willis. Subsequent albums explored diverse styles—from focused psych-pop on Magic and Medicine (2003) to lo-fi experimental mini-albums, stripped-down indie, and heavy '70s rock—often produced with notable collaborators like John Leckie.

After side projects and hiatuses, the Coral regrouped for albums inspired by their past and English culture, including the concept-driven Coral Island and the country-rock Sea of Mirrors, maintaining their reputation as consistently inventive and influential.