Magic And Medicine

The Coral

Magic And Medicine (Deltasonic)

The Coral sprang from nowhere last year with an eponymous debut so stunningly freewheeling it was a miracle the wheels didn't come flying off. The brash young sextet concocted a psychedelic skedaddle through styles as bizarre and diverse as sea shanties and spaghetti western soundtracks.

It's slightly disappointing then to find that on Magic And Medicine the brash young upstarts have reined in those wild, unpredictable tendencies. The production is tighter, the songs simpler and the raw verve is missing. While lyrically their tongues remain firmly in cheek, the sheer sense of fun which made their whirligig debut startling is not so evident.

That's not to say The Coral haven't cut another fine album born from a melange of influences from The Doors to Bob Dylan and Tom Waits. Among the most talented young bands in Britain today, The Coral still offer a fresh, vibrant alternative in an era of melancholy rock musicians. They also throw in anything from over-the-top organs to a Nigel Kennedy style violin, voice samples and cheesy jazz percussion and guitar.

There are some beautiful moments; the organ-led opener In The Forest, the catchy Don't Think You're The First and the shuffling Bill McCai, but other tracks such as Eskimo Lament plod along in somewhat lacklustre style.