Coral Grief : Air Between Us
Talking about how an album makes you feel personally is a double-edged sword for music critics. A universal listening experience doesn’t really exist, as everyone brings their individual selves to a piece of art. Yet an affinity for the same record can create shared bonds between fans—you can see it on the ecstatic faces of a crowd at a concert, and you can watch two strangers instantly become lifelong friends when they make that connection. So while personal feelings alone aren’t enough to judge a record, we shouldn’t ignore them either.
While that’s by no means a unique take, I did come to a fresh perspective while listening to Air Between Us, the debut full-length by Coral Grief. This talented dream-pop act delivers the sort of hazy aesthetics that have become a signature sound in Seattle indie music. From their name alone, my brain automatically conjured up bleary images from the Pacific Northwest: dark green forests, grey beaches, and dreary coastlines.
But when I began to dig deeply into the music, I found thick layers of cracked nostalgia and tremendous chops. Lena Farr-Morrissey packs her lyrics with intense memories, and she isn’t afraid to share her thoughts with others. Despite the overt sadness, she looks to learn from her experiences, not wallow in them. Instead of creating old sad bastard music, the band prefers crisp indie-pop with clear vision and drive.
Don’t get me wrong: the buzzy vibes of classic C86 and ‘90s college rock groups are present, especially in Farr-Morrissey’s breathy soprana. The trio inverts them through the instrumentation and arrangements, including a locked-in rhythm section with a penchant for low-key grooves. I’m a big fan of Sam Fason’s guitar licks, as they showcase supple jazz flair with a deft touch and sublime presence. Cam Hancock’s drumming is hushed yet direct, thanks to subtle syncopation, while Farr-Morrissey’s basslines offer a pleasant thrum amid counterpoint progressions.
With a band name rooted in a forlorn pun, it’s natural to expect a washed-out aesthetic and heaps of melancholy. There’s a reason that feelings and emotional resonance should always be an intimate element of how people enjoy and talk about music. However, Coral Grief transcends the obvious by creating partly cloudy songs flowing with urgency, movement, and tension. Standout tracks like “Starboard,” “Rockhounds,” “Avenue You,” and “Mutual You” demonstrate how each instrument has room in the mix to roam, even as they explore blissed-out textures together.
Label: Anxiety Blanket
Year: 2025
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