CRITICAL EAR

Album: Viva La Vida or Death and all his Friends

Artist: Coldplay

Label: Parlophone

Sounds like: U2

The spirit of U2 hovers over the creation of this latest Coldplay album; not just because ambient music pioneer, Roxy Musician, and U2 enhancing producer Brian Eno were enlisted to add some fresh arrangements to their stadium filling sound.

In that general sound, and in particulars like Chris Martin's vague but universal lyrics and the simple but lighthouse beam guitar lines, Coldplay have always grasped at U2's crown, and on Viva La Vida this central audio core remains. There has been a lot of talk about a more radical Coldplay. With Eno's help they have played with sounds and structures. They open with an instrumental (that sets a precedent with its gorgeously uplifting washes of synthetic sound and what sounds like a hammered dulcimer but is as likely to be treated guitar chiming harmoniously overtop), and some songs seem pieced together from disparate fragments. The album has an odd, long winded name, and the first single is an odd, angry choice. But a quick listen to X and Y before returning to Viva La Vida will confirm that the newie is a natural progression, rather than a left turn. Chris Martin has spoken of his strict Christian upbringing, and perhaps the residue of this is in the mentions of God that pepper the CD and arouse the curiosity. More than ever, his (yes, still vague) lyrics hint at spiritual and moral concerns. But if the title seems to ask a question, the last song gives an answer — "I don't wanna follow death and all of his friends", symbolising the fact that Viva La Vida is more of the thrilling, lush, life affirming music they have delivered over their skyscraping career.

4/5

Nick Mattiske

More reviews online in the YAYA section of our website.