More on: Coldplay

Label: Parlophone
Release Date: 12/06/08
Rating:

Coldplay are certainly a band who like to take their time - four albums in eight years isn't exactly prolific and with their floundering label desperate for sales and the world's press desperate to dissect 'the' album of 2008, it wouldn't be surprising for Chris Martin et al to buckle under the pressure. But in the guidance of mega producer Brian Eno and Markus Dravs, and recorded in their own unique surroundings, Coldplay are back, more galvanised and ready for the challenge.

'Viva La Vida' (taken from a Frida Kahlo painting) will unsettle the casual Coldplay fans. Gone are the recognisable anthemic strokes from past albums, replaced by tribal inspired percussion, with a much looser, relaxed approach. This is not the sound of a band with the weight of the world on their shoulders; it would be easy enough, if not too easy for them to recreate another 'X And Y' album. Instead they have decided to focus on a new direction and show they are not scared to be creatively ambitious. It's a testament to the band's new approach in the fact that one of most instantly satisfyingly pieces on the record, 'Life In Technicolor' they decided to leave as an instrumental. The album doesn't need to rely on its singles - there is a constant flow that guides the listener over the course of the album. Sometimes with too much ease.

It's only after several plays of 'Viva La Vida' that some of the album's real diamonds begin to shine, like '42' with its bold twists, not afraid to stray from the verse, chorus, verse formula. The real centrepiece is 'Lovers in Japan/Reign of Love' which, along with current string-laden single 'Viva La Vida', is easily the strongest material on offer and the most Coldplay sounding track on the album, with the Jonny Buckland chiming guitar at its strongest.

Although the band has chosen to move further away from previous styles, they haven't exactly made a 'Kid A'. 'Violet Hill' may have shocked with its distorted guitars, but with 'Viva La Vida' the same 80s influences of U2 and Talking Heads are still present as with previous outings. As are the same lyrical epic, themes of war and peace, most notably on 'Death And All His Friends', the album's superb closer.

It still feels uncomfortable to watch them perform dressed as French Revolutionaries, but this is Coldplay growing up and moving away from the earnest ballads. The visuals may not fit right, but sonically it's their most satisfying album to date. Now the question is, will fellow sound-a-likes Athlete follow suit with their Salvador Dali influenced album? Let's hope not.

Francis Jolley

Coldplay Official Site