Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
Things are pretty much as you would expect them to be on the Coral's fourth album as all the usual pieces are in place: vocalist James Skelly still channels the voice of Ian McCullough, the guitars of Skelly and Bill Ryder-Jones still sparkle and shine, and the band is still inventive and interesting. What is different about The Invisible Invasion is the stripped-down and focused sound courtesy of producers Geoff Barrow and Adrian Utley (of Portishead). Thankfully no elements of trip-hop show up; instead, they give the songs some rhythmic focus by getting a tight and live drum sound and scale back the often overly ornate arrangements of the first two albums to mostly just guitars, bass, and drums. If the batch of songs the band came up with were at all dull, this approach might have been deadly (as it proved on the somewhat forgettable Nightfreak and the Sons of Becker). Luckily the songs here are among the best they have written and are quite varied as well, ranging from the bouncily acoustic "So Long Ago" to the moody (with a great chorus) "Cripples Crown," the insistent "The Operator" to the musically lovely, lyrically melancholy "In the Morning." Where the group once seemed intent on cramming every song with everything they could fit, the new focus allows the songs to breathe more, at times even reaching levels of emotional depth that didn't seem in the cards before. "Far from the Crowd" with its quietly galloping rhythms and beautiful vocal harmonies is one example; the achingly sad "Late Afternoon" (which is one of the few songs to prominently feature keyboards) is another. More depth, better production, stellar songs performed with high levels of vigor and commitment -- it adds up to the group's best album to date. Despite a work rate that might burn out a lesser group, the Coral show no signs of going away anytime soon and if they can keep making records this good, lovers of tuneful and intelligent pop music should be very glad.
© Tim Sendra /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From £10.83/month
Ian Skelly, Drums - Craig Silvey, Mixing Engineer - Geoff Barrow, Producer - Geoff Barrow, Mixing Engineer - Adrian Utley, Producer - Adrian Utley, Engineer - Adrian Utley, Mixing Engineer - John Duffy, Percussion - Paul Duffy, Background Vocal - Paul Duffy, Bass - Nick Power, Composer - Nick Power, Lyricist - Nick Power, Piano - Bill Ryder-Jones, Keyboards - Nick Joplin, Mixing Engineer - Frank Arkwright, Mastering Engineer - The Coral, Performer - Steve Davis, Engineer - Matthew Edge, 2nd Engineer - James Skelly, Composer - James Skelly, Vocal - James Skelly, Guitar - James Skelly, Lyricist - Lee Southall, Guitar
(P) 2005 Deltasonic Records 2002 Ltd.
Ian Skelly, Drums - Craig Silvey, Mixing Engineer - Geoff Barrow, Producer - Geoff Barrow, Mixing Engineer - Adrian Utley, Producer - Adrian Utley, Engineer - Adrian Utley, Mixing Engineer - Paul Duffy, Background Vocal - Paul Duffy, Bass - Nick Power, Composer - Nick Power, Lyricist - Nick Power, Keyboards - Bill Ryder-Jones, Guitar - Nick Joplin, Mixing Engineer - Frank Arkwright, Mastering Engineer - The Coral, Performer - Steve Davis, Engineer - Matthew Edge, 2nd Engineer - James Skelly, Vocal - James Skelly, Composer - James Skelly, Lyricist - Lee Southall, Guitar
(P) 2005 Deltasonic Records 2002 Ltd.
Ian Skelly, Drums - Craig Silvey, Mixing Engineer - Geoff Barrow, Producer - Geoff Barrow, Mixing Engineer - Adrian Utley, Producer - Adrian Utley, Engineer - Adrian Utley, Mixing Engineer - John Duffy, Percussion - Paul Duffy, Background Vocal - Paul Duffy, Bass - Nick Power, Composer - Nick Power, Lyricist - Nick Power, Keyboards - Bill Ryder-Jones, Composer - Bill Ryder-Jones, Guitar - Bill Ryder-Jones, Lyricist - Nick Joplin, Mixing Engineer - Frank Arkwright, Mastering Engineer - The Coral, Performer - Steve Davis, Engineer - James Skelly, Composer - James Skelly, Vocal - James Skelly, Lyricist - Lee Southall, Background Vocal - Lee Southall, Acoustic Baritone Guitar
(P) 2005 Deltasonic Records 2002 Ltd.
Ian Skelly, Drums - Craig Silvey, Mixing Engineer - Geoff Barrow, Producer - Geoff Barrow, Mixing Engineer - Adrian Utley, Producer - Adrian Utley, Engineer - Adrian Utley, Mixing Engineer - John Duffy, Percussion - Paul Duffy, Background Vocal - Paul Duffy, Bass - Nick Power, Keyboards - Bill Ryder-Jones, Guitar - Nick Joplin, Mixing Engineer - Frank Arkwright, Mastering Engineer - The Coral, Performer - Steve Davis, Engineer - James Skelly, Composer - James Skelly, Vocal - James Skelly, Lyricist - Lee Southall, Guitar
(P) 2005 Deltasonic Records 2002 Ltd.
Ian Skelly, Drums - Craig Silvey, Mixing Engineer - Geoff Barrow, Producer - Geoff Barrow, Mixing Engineer - Adrian Utley, Producer - Adrian Utley, Engineer - Adrian Utley, Mixing Engineer - John Duffy, Percussion - Paul Duffy, Background Vocal - Paul Duffy, Bass - Nick Power, Composer - Nick Power, Lyricist - Nick Power, Keyboards - Bill Ryder-Jones, Composer - Bill Ryder-Jones, Guitar - Bill Ryder-Jones, Lyricist - Nick Joplin, Mixing Engineer - Frank Arkwright, Mastering Engineer - The Coral, Performer - Matthew Edge, 2nd Engineer - James Skelly, Vocal - James Skelly, Composer - James Skelly, Lyricist - Lee Southall, Guitar
(P) 2005 Deltasonic Records 2002 Ltd.
Ian Skelly, Drums - Craig Silvey, Mixing Engineer - Geoff Barrow, Producer - Geoff Barrow, Mixing Engineer - Adrian Utley, Producer - Adrian Utley, Engineer - Adrian Utley, Mixing Engineer - John Duffy, Percussion - Paul Duffy, Background Vocal - Paul Duffy, Bass - Nick Power, Piano - Frank Arkwright, Mastering Engineer - The Coral, Performer - Steve Davis, Engineer - James Skelly, Composer - James Skelly, Guitar - James Skelly, Lyricist - Lee Southall, Guitar
(P) 2002 Deltasonic Records Limited
Ian Skelly, Drums - Craig Silvey, Mixing Engineer - Geoff Barrow, Producer - Geoff Barrow, Mixing Engineer - Adrian Utley, Producer - Adrian Utley, Engineer - Adrian Utley, Mixing Engineer - John Duffy, Percussion - Paul Duffy, Background Vocal - Paul Duffy, Bass - Nick Power, Keyboards - Nick Power, Piano - Bill Ryder-Jones, Guitar - Nick Joplin, Mixing Engineer - Frank Arkwright, Mastering Engineer - The Coral, Performer - Steve Davis, 2nd Engineer - James Skelly, Composer - James Skelly, Vocal - James Skelly, Lyricist - Lee Southall, Background Vocal - Lee Southall, Guitar
(P) 2005 Deltasonic Records Limited
Ian Skelly, Drums - Craig Silvey, Mixing Engineer - Geoff Barrow, Producer - Geoff Barrow, Mixing Engineer - Adrian Utley, Producer - Adrian Utley, Engineer - Adrian Utley, Mixing Engineer - John Duffy, Percussion - Paul Duffy, Background Vocal - Paul Duffy, Bass - Nick Power, Composer - Nick Power, Lyricist - Nick Power, Keyboards - Bill Ryder-Jones, Composer - Bill Ryder-Jones, Keyboards - Bill Ryder-Jones, Lyricist - Nick Joplin, Mixing Engineer - Frank Arkwright, Mastering Engineer - The Coral, Performer - Steve Davis, Engineer - James Skelly, Composer - James Skelly, Vocal - James Skelly, Lyricist - Lee Southall, Guitar
(P) 2005 Deltasonic Records 2002 Ltd.
Ian Skelly, Drums - Craig Silvey, Mixing Engineer - Geoff Barrow, Producer - Geoff Barrow, Mixing Engineer - Adrian Utley, Producer - Adrian Utley, Engineer - Adrian Utley, Mixing Engineer - John Duffy, Percussion - Paul Duffy, Background Vocal - Paul Duffy, Bass - Nick Power, Keyboards - Bill Ryder-Jones, Organ - Nick Joplin, Mixing Engineer - Frank Arkwright, Mastering Engineer - The Coral, Performer - Steve Davis, Engineer - James Skelly, Composer - James Skelly, Vocal - James Skelly, Lyricist - Lee Southall, Guitar
(P) 2005 Deltasonic Records 2002 Ltd.
Ian Skelly, Drums - Craig Silvey, Mixing Engineer - Geoff Barrow, Producer - Geoff Barrow, Mixing Engineer - Adrian Utley, Producer - Adrian Utley, Engineer - Adrian Utley, Mixing Engineer - John Duffy, Keyboards - Paul Duffy, Background Vocal - Paul Duffy, Bass - Bill Ryder-Jones, Guitar - Nick Joplin, Mixing Engineer - Frank Arkwright, Mastering Engineer - The Coral, Performer - Steve Davis, Engineer - James Skelly, Composer - James Skelly, Vocal - James Skelly, Lyricist - Lee Southall, Vocal - Lee Southall, Composer - Lee Southall, Guitar - Lee Southall, Lyricist
(P) 2005 Deltasonic Records 2002 Ltd.
Ian Skelly, Drums - Craig Silvey, Mixing Engineer - Geoff Barrow, Producer - Geoff Barrow, Mixing Engineer - Adrian Utley, Producer - Adrian Utley, Engineer - Adrian Utley, Mixing Engineer - John Duffy, Background Vocal - John Duffy, Percussion - Paul Duffy, Background Vocal - Paul Duffy, Bass - Nick Power, Composer - Nick Power, Lyricist - Nick Power, Keyboards - Bill Ryder-Jones, Guitar - Nick Joplin, Mixing Engineer - Frank Arkwright, Mastering Engineer - The Coral, Performer - Steve Davis, Engineer - James Skelly, Composer - James Skelly, Vocal - James Skelly, Lyricist - Lee Southall, Background Vocal
(P) 2005 Deltasonic Records 2002 Ltd.
Ian Skelly, Drums - Craig Silvey, Mixing Engineer - Geoff Barrow, Producer - Geoff Barrow, Mixing Engineer - Adrian Utley, Producer - Adrian Utley, Engineer - Adrian Utley, Mixing Engineer - John Duffy, Percussion - Paul Duffy, Background Vocal - Paul Duffy, Bass - Nick Power, Piano - Bill Ryder-Jones, Keyboards - Nick Joplin, Mixing Engineer - Frank Arkwright, Mastering Engineer - The Coral, Performer - Steve Davis, Engineer - James Skelly, Composer - James Skelly, Vocal - James Skelly, Lyricist - James Skelly, Guitar - Lee Southall, Guitar
(P) 2005 Deltasonic Records 2002 Ltd.
Album review
Things are pretty much as you would expect them to be on the Coral's fourth album as all the usual pieces are in place: vocalist James Skelly still channels the voice of Ian McCullough, the guitars of Skelly and Bill Ryder-Jones still sparkle and shine, and the band is still inventive and interesting. What is different about The Invisible Invasion is the stripped-down and focused sound courtesy of producers Geoff Barrow and Adrian Utley (of Portishead). Thankfully no elements of trip-hop show up; instead, they give the songs some rhythmic focus by getting a tight and live drum sound and scale back the often overly ornate arrangements of the first two albums to mostly just guitars, bass, and drums. If the batch of songs the band came up with were at all dull, this approach might have been deadly (as it proved on the somewhat forgettable Nightfreak and the Sons of Becker). Luckily the songs here are among the best they have written and are quite varied as well, ranging from the bouncily acoustic "So Long Ago" to the moody (with a great chorus) "Cripples Crown," the insistent "The Operator" to the musically lovely, lyrically melancholy "In the Morning." Where the group once seemed intent on cramming every song with everything they could fit, the new focus allows the songs to breathe more, at times even reaching levels of emotional depth that didn't seem in the cards before. "Far from the Crowd" with its quietly galloping rhythms and beautiful vocal harmonies is one example; the achingly sad "Late Afternoon" (which is one of the few songs to prominently feature keyboards) is another. More depth, better production, stellar songs performed with high levels of vigor and commitment -- it adds up to the group's best album to date. Despite a work rate that might burn out a lesser group, the Coral show no signs of going away anytime soon and if they can keep making records this good, lovers of tuneful and intelligent pop music should be very glad.
© Tim Sendra /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 12 track(s)
- Total length: 00:39:37
- Main artists: The Coral
- Composer: James Skelly
- Label: Sony Music UK
- Genre: Pop/Rock
(P) 2005 Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
Improve album informationWhy buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.