This is the Coral's fourth album in as many years - a fact that would have been unremarkable back in their beloved 60s, but these days marks them out as musical workaholics.The most obvious difference about this one is that the endlessly inventive Scousers have drafted in former members of Portishead as producers, resulting in ghostly arrangements that clash oddly with James Skelly's enigmatic Merseybeat tunes. The results are often inspired, occasionally frustrating - but always intriguing. Even on the weaker tracks, there's an air of mystery and melancholy here that confirm the Coral as one of the British indie scene's most accomplished bands. And of course, if you don't like it, there's bound to be another along before too long.

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