Coral Grief’s Air Between Us is a dreamy tribute to a changing Seattle
Seattle trio Coral Grief makes a striking first impression with Air Between Us, a debut album that merges dream pop atmosphere with textured dissonance. Out July 18 via Suicide Squeeze, Anxiety Blanket, and Den Tapes, the record offers a deeply personal reflection on memory, transformation, and the shifting landscape of home.
Produced by: Coral Grief
From the opening track ‘Starboard,’ Coral Grief sets an immersive tone. Sam Fason’s guitar hits like a gust of sea air, blending with Lena Farr-Morrissey’s honeyed vocals and Cam Hancock’s dynamic drumming to evoke the fluid motion of the sky and shoreline on the move. The band thrives in this space—an in-between—emotional, geographical, and sonic—crafting a sound that’s as introspective as it is expansive.
Much of the album explores Farr-Morrissey’s relationship with her rapidly changing hometown of Seattle. On ‘Avenue You,’ she recalls the erased landmarks of her youth—the Baskin-Robbins, the DIY show spaces, and Mutual Fish—now paved over or gentrified beyond recognition. Her voice balances sentiment and clarity, lending gravity to lyrics like “It’s all changed but the name.”
Yet Air Between Us is far from nostalgic wallowing. Farr-Morrissey, Fason, and Hancock create a rich, layered sonic world that draws from influences like Stereolab, Broadcast, and Seefeel but reframed through a Pacific Northwest lens. Recorded at The Unknown in Anacortes, Washington alongside engineer Nich Wilbur, the band stayed committed to their three-piece setup while expanding their palette. “We were committed to the three-piece way of doing things, but wanted to make it sound as lush and as full as possible,” Fason explains.
The band’s chemistry shines throughout—from the shimmering propulsion of ‘Mutual Wish’ to the gentle unraveling of ‘Latitude,’ inspired by words from Fason’s grandmother. ‘Paint By Number’ and lead single ‘Rockhounds’ show the trio stretching into playful and percussive territory, with Farr-Morrissey’s vocals anchoring the swirl. Closer ‘Almost Everyday’ pays homage to Everyday Music, a beloved record store where Farr-Morrissey once worked, and captures the bittersweet essence of what Coral Grief does best—honoring what’s been lost while finding beauty in what remains.
With Air Between Us, Coral Grief delivers a debut that’s sonically adventurous and emotionally grounded. It’s a love letter to a city, a memory, and a feeling—one that changes every time you return.
Standout Songs: ‘Starboard,’ ‘Avenue You,’ ‘Mutual Wish,’ and ‘Almost Everyday.’
Release Date: July 18, 2025
8.3
We’ve covered Coral Grief previously: ‘Paint By Number,’ and ‘Latitude.’
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