The Coral Surprise Everyone With Album Number Thirteen
The Coral - Credit- John Johnson
By David Weddle | Music News Monthly | 21st May 2026
Usually when bands have an album coming out, they announce it months in advance with carefully choreographed promotional campaigns. The Coral are not your usual kind of band. 388, the thirteenth studio album from the Merseyside legends, broke the current mould and went back to the good old-fashioned way of releasing a record.
They quietly slipped it onto the shelves of independent record shops without shouting it out on socials and no media fanfare, relying simply on the music and word of mouth. Then two weeks later, with the word already spreading, they released it officially into the wider world. In 2026, that is very brave and shows how much they trust their fans and music.
The Coral recorded the entire album in just two weeks, drawing on a rather eclectic mix of influences, including Rocksteady, early 60s vocal groups, and the Ethiopiques compilations, while also being shaped by the band's own life experiences.
They quietly slipped it onto the shelves of independent record shops without shouting it out on socials and no media fanfare, relying simply on the music and word of mouth. Then two weeks later, with the word already spreading, they released it officially into the wider world. In 2026, that is very brave and shows how much they trust their fans and music.
The Coral recorded the entire album in just two weeks, drawing on a rather eclectic mix of influences, including Rocksteady, early 60s vocal groups, and the Ethiopiques compilations, while also being shaped by the band's own life experiences.
The band's new single 'Let The Music Play' has been released with a video today, and singer James Skelly's description of its origins sums it up perfectly. He describes it as an ode to Wailers and Lee Scratch Perry cassettes picked up in second hand shops, Poundland, and car boot sales and a song that attempts to make sense of the world before arriving at the conclusion that only music ever truly can.
The critics have taken notice too, with MOJO and Uncut both rating it among the band's finest work to date. That's high praise indeed.
388 is out now on Run On Records. The Coral hit the road this summer with festival appearances, including Tramlines, Kendal Calling, and Victorious. Full dates below:
Tickets for all upcoming shows, as well as orders for 388 on all available formats plus special album merchandise, can be found via links at www.thecoral.co.uk
The critics have taken notice too, with MOJO and Uncut both rating it among the band's finest work to date. That's high praise indeed.
388 is out now on Run On Records. The Coral hit the road this summer with festival appearances, including Tramlines, Kendal Calling, and Victorious. Full dates below:
- Fri 12 June: Southampton, Southampton Summer Sessions w/Amy MacDonald
- Thu 18 June: Halifax, The Piece Hall w/Amy MacDonald
- Sat 27 – Sun 28 June: Chelmsford, State Fayre 2026
- Sun 12 July: Walton-on-Thames, The Electric Heart Festival
- Sat 18 – Sun 19 July: Birkenhead, We Are Wirral 2026
- Fri 24 July: Sheffield, Tramlines Festival
- Thu 23 – Sun 26 July: Wadebridge, Rock Oyster Festival
- Fri 31 July: Kendal, Kendal Calling
- Fri 21 Aug: Trentham, Trentham Live w/Madness
- Fri 28 Aug: Southsea, Victorious Festival 2026
- Sat 29 Aug: Manchester, Wythenshawe Park w/Courteeners
- Sun 30 Aug: Kingham, Big Feastival
Tickets for all upcoming shows, as well as orders for 388 on all available formats plus special album merchandise, can be found via links at www.thecoral.co.uk