The Coral Sea
Something beautiful is going on in the west coast, but not the sunsets or the beaches or even the Pacific Ocean, I’m talking about The Coral Sea. Like the vast and colorful vibe the name evokes, The Coral Sea’s music, full of depth and harmony, with such a genuine quality that it could only have been inspired by quiet moments alone in the car.
The five-piece was formed in 2005 by the lead singer and songwriter Rey Villalobos. Their self-produced first album “Volcano and Heart,” was released in 2006. After their debut, they toured the US and the UK, sharing bills with artists such as The Walkmen, St. Vincent, The Silversun Pickups, and Frank Black. They have also been in rotation on numerous radio shows, including KCRW Morning Becomes Eclectic. Tracks from the album caught the attention of the creators of “Grey’s Anatomy” and were featured on two episodes.
Over this past year, the band has focused on creating a new album. Villalobos makes sure to always carry his acoustic guitar with him everywhere he goes, just in case inspiration strikes. One such place was his car, where the rudiments of the majority of the new album were composed. The unpredictability of the way in which the songs were first born makes them feel effortless, while the development and expansion upon the initial theme creates a very polished end result. Some tracks, such as “From Arizona to Barcelona”, were completely rearranged a month after initially played by the band. This constant creative process really brought the track to a whole new conceptual level.
The band has created a sound that is emotional and vulnerable, as well as structured, layered with atmospheric ambiance. They have blended gorgeous orchestral arrangements with indie rock for a warm, dreamlike quality. Think Yo La Tengo or Sigur Ros coupled with David Bowie.
In describing The Coral Sea’s debut album, Relative Theory Records said, “Very few times do you see a band come out of the gates with such emotion and amazing structure as The Coral Sea. I can only hope that this is not their peak, and that The Coral Sea continues to provide us with wonderful albums in the future.” That new wonderful album is “Firelight”. (Recorded in the summer of 2008, “Firelight”, the second full length album from California indie rock quintet The Coral Sea)
Band members:
Eric Ahlgren – keyboards
James Garza – ambient guitar
James Van Arsdale – bass guitar
Bret Van Derhyden – drums
Rey Villalobos – vocals, guitar