Isle of Wight four-piece Coach Party return with their sophomore album Caramel, a dazzling, perfectly weighted collection of ten tracks that finds the band confidently pushing past their reputation as indie upstarts and stepping firmly into the spotlight.
Right from opener “Do It For Love”, you’re hit with that indelible mix of honesty and drive. Beneath Jess Eastwood’s delivery lies an infectious keyboard line and a killer bass riff that instantly lodge themselves in your head. What initially feels like a straight-up love song is quickly revealed as an unflinching portrait of what it means to live in a band, giving all of yourself even when the returns are murky. The production (handled by bands drummer Guy Page) keeps things taut and immediate, ensuring nothing overstays its welcome.
“Girls!” is the record’s clear stand-out in terms of sheer rallying power. Eastwood’s declaration, “Where the fuck are my giiiiirls?”, feels like an inclusive war cry, and rightly so; this is a track built for a live gig for every sweaty body in the room to shout it back at the band.
“I Really Like You”, “Fake It”, and “Medicate Yourself,” by contrast, lean into something tender and showcase songwriting maturity well beyond the band’s years. It’s a reminder that Caramel isn’t all chest-thumping anthems; it knows when to strip things back and let the internal fissures show.
The tension returns on “Disco Dream”, which features Izzy Bee Phillips of Black Honey, throws in a brighter, swaggering edge that shows Coach Party aren’t afraid to flirt with danceable ambition.
Late in the album comes “Do Yourself A Favour”, arguably the record’s jewel. Positioned deep in the tracklist, it delivers a knockout punch of melody and emotion, reminding listeners just how good Coach Party is with only one track on the album remaining.
By the time “Still Hurts” fades out, you’re left in a bittersweet glow; bruised yet strangely uplifted. There’s no radical reinvention here, but none is needed; Coach Party already know their strengths. If their 2023 debut Killjoy, was a promise, Caramel is the sequel fans hoped for, richer in texture and stronger in its emotional punch.
With Caramel, Coach Party deliver a near-perfect album that confirms their place as one of the UK’s most exciting bands. It’s bold, heartfelt, and endlessly replayable.
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