(Deltasonic) ***

AFTER the rambling Invisible Invasion, fans of The Coral's old-fashioned tunefulness will be relieved to hear Roots & Echoes is choc-a-bloc with viable hooks, dreamy harmonies and shadowy lyrics that tell of many things.

Not that they've jumped feet first into the mainstream or anything, it's just that this time out they've resisted the temptation to sprinkle mad mariachi trumpets or salty squeeze boxes over their tunes.

The Coral tap into the very roots of Merseybeat by invoking first generation rock 'n' roll flavoured with folk, country, blues and delta jazz. In the Rain lingers on the language of love, while Rebecca You captures teardrops on piano keys and Who's Gonna Find Me is a rollicking blast of bonhomie. In all, Roots & Echoes is exactly what it says on the tin.