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Editorial Review

The problem with this album is that you know what you want to expect. The history is there from two past works of near perfection. ‘Parachutes?/A> one of the most brilliant debuts ever, and ‘Rush Of Blood? put paid to that “difficult second album?bunkum. So you have to feel a shade of sympathy for Chris Martin and his winsome chums as we ?the record buying public ?have given them an even bigger mountain to climb, weighted down with the heaviest of anticipation. Doubtless some cynics will want to sink the knives deep, but of the three albums to date, this one might just have greatest longevity yet. And be sure, the bedwetting is over.

The perfect introduction on “Square One?leads into some of their biggest sounds to date. Not volume, just big. Plus add their innate nice-ness of being good chaps through the “it doesn’t matter who you are?refrain. The piano simplicity that made “Spies?so awesome 5 years ago, is akin the start of “What If? One of those truly gut-wrenchingly poignant Coldplay moments. Doubts expressed in the lyrics superbly entrenched within depths of melody.

However you do have to get over the slightly alarming sonic impressions that they may be turning into U2. “White Shadows?is the first time they kick The Edge at his game of riffs, and although this is no ‘Joshua Tree?/A> replica, the guitar overtones are there. No bad thing, as it turns into another big wallop of sound which really drives home.

It is also a given that “anthem?will be the mot-du-jour-de-review too. The tracks till now haven’t really yielded a fat juicy one, and the subdued start of “Fix You?is an unlikely candidate. But wait. The keyboards get progressively persuasive, and when the guitars kick in half-way through, the drum kit gets beaten up, the lighters are already in the air. Listen and watch this one become the big show-stopper at forthcoming gigs.

The distant feel of another U2 guitar segment heralds in “Talk? but it’s another excellent evolution from pathos to stadium rock. In common with many of the tracks, it changes pace and direction through its course. A mark of a well-crafted tune, and even though we already know that they dish those up rather well, it is good to have it reaffirmed.

Fixing stuff is a prevailing theme too. Not only on “Fix You?(obviously) but also on the title track, which manages more than a hint of Beatles melody. The “drifting in outer space?lines are the first hint of lyrical mediocrity, but the music is a moody grower. Martin has worried if the outside influences might be deemed plagiarism, but he needn’t worry here. The prevailing Coldplay identity is biggest.

Hearing “Speed Of Sound?within the album makes it even more enjoyable. Then the issues of doubt and rejection within the simpler acoustic styled “A Message?build up to something large again. The faster pace of “Low?is immediate, but it turns into a belter. (Listen out for the drum break seemingly played on the spoons too.) “The Hardest Part?is the most obvious, easiest pop track they have ever made. A natural depth, and perhaps the lack of complexity is just to let us appreciate the others more.

A lovely term (if not image) of being “Swallowed In The Sea? and the effortless feel belies the well-built quality. The officially final “Twisted Logic?track manages to be perfectly balanced, occasionally haunting, and goes through fine scenes within the act. And just as the very start of the album was perfect, so is the end of the end. In fact the subsequent hidden track almost spoils the complete canvas.

Perhaps the real strength of the album is within the first half, but to favour some tracks over others is unfair, as all are of a quality most bands will never accomplish in a lifetime. Maybe Chris Martin now joins Thom Yorke as the least likely star muso to crack a smile, but his colours have never been brighter. The band as a whole have pushed themselves harder to create another true delicacy of passion. Surely the next one can’t better this. So then, you’d best retire now lads, to achieve timeless sainthood rather than strain us with anything less becoming in future. Actually please don’t quite yet.

Neil Chase
Music Editor

Contributors:

• Coldplay
• Danton Supple; Coldplay; Ken Nelson

Additional Info

• Label: Capitol/EMI Records
• No of Discs: 1
• Recording: STEREO
• Format: Single Case

Tracklisting