The Coral Share New Song Drifter's Prayer Featuring Actor John Simm
Monday, 19 June 2023
Written by Jon Stickler
The Coral have shared a new song called Drifter's Prayer.
Featuring narration from actor John Simm, the acoustic folk-country track serves as the first preview of 'Holy Joe's Coral Island Medical Show', one of two albums the Wirral band will release on September 8.
The record will arrive alongside 'Sea Of Mirrors', which was teased in May with the single Wild Bird. Frontman James Skelly said of the collaboration with Simm:
"Nick [Power] had this poem and we thought that we’d do something with, like a murder ballad. He also had this acoustic, country-style riff so we recorded it in the studio and it fitted with the words perfectly but it needed someone to do the narration. We just messaged John, he’d already been to a few gigs, and he said ‘yes’ straight away. Nailed it perfectly. He’s a pro. It’s great to be able to see someone like that working, someone who is just that good at doing their job."
The band's Nick Power added: "We were talking about having a spoken word track on the album, but maybe bringing an actor in to voice it. I had the idea of this fairground worker looking back on his life, sort of like a eulogy to the old travelling carnival world and its customs. How those people were their own community, constantly on the move, drifting through England. And this person coming to terms with the modern world leaving him behind, in a way. John Simm came in and understood it right away. I think it took about two or three takes."
Other guests on the spaghetti-Western-themed double album include actor Cillian Murphy and Love guitarist Johnny Echols. Former The Coral member Bill Ryder-Jones has also contributed to songwriting on 'Sea Of Mirrors', marking his first work with the band since his departure in 2008.
The Coral have a UK tour scheduled for spring 2024, with each night billed as an intimate evening of music and conversation with Skelly and Power.
Fri March 08 2024 - CHESTER StoryHouse
Sat March 09 2024 - COVENTRY Warwick Arts Centre
Sun March 10 2024 - BRIGHTON Komedia
Fri March 22 2024 - LEICESTER Y Theatre
Sat March 23 2024 - MILTON KEYNES Stables
Sun March 24 2024 - SALE Waterside
Fri March 29 2024 - LICHFIELD Garrick
Sat March 30 2024 - LONDON Union Chapel
Fri April 12 2024 - HALIFAX Square Chapel
Sat April 13 2024 - WORKINGTON Carnegie Theatre
Fri April 19 2024 - WHITLEY BAY Playhouse
Sat April 20 2024 - LYTHAM Lowther Pavilion
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