IT'S been an incredible 18 months or so for The Coral. Where the band stand now seems a million miles away from being the unknowns who annoyed a couple of hundred potential York fans with their repeated Fibbers no-shows.

Last year's self-titled debut was a remarkable record, skilfully written and played by a band not yet out of their teens who had yet somehow managed to be retro and original at the same time. The Coral were the blast of refreshing air British music fans had been gasping for.

So after such a great opener came the inevitable pressure to produce an equally impressive second record - along with the pressure to progress while still giving the fans what got them hooked in the first place.

Word was the band had written much of the second album while the first was busy blowing people away, something that would explain the quick release and similarities with the debut album.

The good news is, there is still no one quite like The Coral. While they've helped trigger a new Merseybeat, their sound remains very much their own.

No one else could come up with opener In The Forest, a fairy-tale yarn that really does make you feel you're creeping through a shady wood surrounded by red and white spotted toadstools. Single Don't Think You're The First is a beautiful slice of gently bass-laden blues. Liezah could be sung by a tale-telling travelling troubadour.

The first Coral fillers come in the shape of Secret Kiss and Milkwood Blues, which aren't bad tunes but sound like the band taking an instrumental break. Their eyes start to open again on Bill McCai, snapping to attention on the divine Eskimo Lament. Closer Confessions of A.D.D.D is a stunning psychedelic swirl. Maybe not quite as good as the first, but, as the title suggests, the magic's still there.

Updated: 10:23 Thursday, August 07, 2003