Album Review

Coach Party - Caramel

Name: Coach Party - Caramel Review
Item: Caramel
Rating: 4
Author: Felicity Newton

The Isle of Wight quartet pin down all the messy bits of being alive: having a crush, being exhausted, pushing through the fog.

Label: Chess Club Records

Released: 25th September 2025

Words: Felicity Newton

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Coach Party’s second album 'Caramel' is sharp, punchy and full of charm. At just 10 tracks, it’s refreshingly lean – no filler, no faffing. Across its 33 minutes, the Isle of Wight quartet pin down all the messy bits of being alive: having a crush, being exhausted, pushing through the fog.

Opener 'Do It For Love' is big, bold, and built for the stage. It’s followed by the excellent 'Girls!', a rallying cry that’s as brash as it is inclusive: “Where the fuck are my giiiiirls?” demands Jess Eastwood.

There’s a clear emotional thread running through the album. 'I Really Like You' is sweetly nostalgic, while 'Fake It' and 'Medicate Yourself' tackle the uneasy art of pretending everything’s fine. On 'Disco Dream', featuring Black Honey’s Izzy Bee Phillips, the band lean into their most confident, strut-worthy side. Elsewhere, 'Do Yourself A Favour' brings grit and frustration, and closer 'Still Hurts' ends things with a warm, expansive glow.

Produced by the band’s own Guy Page, 'Caramel' sounds crisp and immediate throughout. There’s bite, but also a lot of heart – and that combination makes even the heavier moments feel inviting. It’s a record that knows exactly what it wants to say, and says it without overstaying its welcome.

There’s no big reinvention here: Coach Party know what works – big hooks, bigger feelings and a clear sense of who they are. On 'Caramel', they’ve bottled all of that. It’s a record that backs itself, and rightly so.