Coral Album Review

Artisan Guns don’t just write songs, they make musical poems where lyrics and instrumentation work in perfect harmony with each other.  Each song paints a musical picture telling of heartbreak, longing, loss and frustration. Often melancholy, the album never gets too dark, retaining a faint feeling of hope throughout, despite the sometimes dark subject matter.

Pulled You In, around the middle of the album, is the exception to the rule, providing an upbeat interlude before the album descends back into despondency with Heights. The overall mood of the album, and in particular the singing style of the ironically named Matthew Hope, reminded me a bit of the Smiths; the sound however is distinctly original.

The band has a lot of talent, with members also playing in a lot of other acclaimed bands, and their combined abilities really shine through on this album, resulting in a collection of songs that demand repeated listening. I can see Coral becoming one of my favourite local albums, and one that is sure to have longevity.