Concerts

The Coral Unveil Surprise Rocksteady-Inspired Album ‘388’

The Coral have surprise-released "388," an album named after the vintage Tascam tape machine it was recorded on. The new record draws inspiration from reggae, Éthiopiques compilations, and 1960s Joe Meek records.

Brooklyn Vegan·May 21, 2026·via Brooklyn Vegan

The Coral Unveil Surprise Rocksteady-Inspired Album ‘388’

The Coral have dropped their 13th album on the world unannounced. Named for the vintage Tascam tape machine it was recorded on, 388 was inspired by reggae, Éthiopiques compilations, and Joe Meek records from the ’60s. The record was initially released as a limited vinyl LP slipped quietly to independent record shops, but is now available to stream.

For a band whose music is steeped various ’60s styles, these arrangements are a perfect fit for The Coral. The lead single is “Let The Music Play,” about which frontman James Skelly says, “The recording is an ode to the sound of cassette tapes by The Wailers and Lee Scratch Perry that we used to buy in second hand shops, Poundland and car boot sales. The song itself is us trying to make sense of the world but arriving at the fact that only music will ever make sense.”

You can watch the video for “Let the Music Play” and listen to ‘388’ below.

The Coral are on the festival circuit this summer and all dates are listed below.

388

1. Let The Music Play

2. Ride That Train

3. Leave It In The Past

4. You & Me (And The Beautiful Sea)

5. Shame

6. Here Come The Tears

7. Yellow Moon

8. Sad Girl

9. High Tide