With this record, we spent months in The Bakery before going into a studio. But then, weвЂ™d end up scrapping most of the stuff and having to start again, because we hadnвЂ™t spent enough time rehearsing or writing.

Previously, weвЂ™d think: WeвЂ™ve got a handful of songs, letвЂ™s go into a big, expensive studio and start recording. вЂњWe could come in every day, with no pressure on time, and just work on our music. вЂњThe Bakery has been an absolute godsend,вЂќ agrees drummer Will Champion. As Buckland says, вЂњItвЂ™s the first time weвЂ™ve had a proper band home since we were rehearsing in my student bedroom in 1999. There, they could rehearse, write, work on artwork or just relax (the dartboard proved particularly popular). вЂњWe realised we hadnвЂ™t really listened to any albums all the way through for quite a long time,вЂќ explains Buckland, вЂњthe simple reason being that people put too many songs on them.вЂќ вЂњSo, although it meant leaving off some tracks that we love,вЂќ says Martin, вЂњthis album had to finish before an episode of CSI is over.вЂќ Sure enough, the band kept the albumвЂ™s ten tracks within their target of 42 minutes (though additional hidden songs do bring the overall length to 46 minutes).ДЄnother big change was that the band found themselves a permanent HQ a former bakery tucked down an anonymous alley opposite a north London council estate. In that spirit, the band decided at the very beginning of the recording process that вЂVivaвЂ¦вЂ™ would be their shortest album. вЂњWe just wanted to present them differently.вЂќ вЂњI hope so,вЂќ says Buckland, вЂњWeвЂ™ve never been ashamed of tunes and we never will be.вЂќ вЂњWeвЂ™re still obsessed with making songs that can be sung to the rafters,вЂќ agrees Martin. вЂVivaвЂ¦вЂ™ might find Coldplay in experimental mood, but its 10 songs still burst with big, life-affirming hooks and choruses. But those sonic stretches didnвЂ™t come at the expense of the diamond-tipped melodies which have helped make Coldplay one of the worldвЂ™s favourite bands since they released their debut album, вЂParachutesвЂ™, in 2000. вЂњWeвЂ™ve definitely stretched ourselves,вЂќ says guitarist Jonny Buckland. For another track, weвЂ™d listen to Marvin Gaye and Radiohead. WeвЂ™d listen to Rammstein and Tinariwen next to each other and the result would be something like the middle bit of вЂ™42вЂІ. With this album, we were inspired by so much amazing music. The other is when I hear something brilliant, trying to write something as good as that. вЂњOne is trying to make sense of existence. вЂњIвЂ™m driven by two things,вЂќ Martin continues. вЂњI remember hearing it and thinking, вЂOK, we need to get better as a bandвЂ™.вЂќ The first song for ColdplayвЂ™s new album was written the very next day. вЂњThe starting point for this album was listening to an amazing old Blur song called вЂSing (To Me)вЂ™ while we were on the road with вЂX&YвЂ™,вЂќ says Martin, referring to a pounding, hypnotic track from BlurвЂ™s first album. The result is a record where groovesome programmed beats jostle with grand swells of church organ (вЂLost!вЂ™), where the space between verse and chorus is filled with deliciously propulsive stabs of North African-styled strings and tablas (вЂYesвЂ™), where breezy Flamenco handclaps drive a tale of gloom and despair (вЂCemeteries Of LondonвЂ™), or where four-to-the-floor rhythms meld with weeping strings for an ode to lost glories (вЂViva La VidaвЂ™).

вЂњWe were much more open to new ideas and influences and much less afraid to experiment.вЂќ вЂњIt can be easy to stop yourself from trying things because youвЂ™re scared of what people might say,вЂќ adds Martin, вЂњbut we forced ourselves not to do that.вЂќ вЂњI think itвЂ™s our boldest and most confident record,вЂќ says bassist Guy Berryman. However you might describe it, thereвЂ™s no mistaking the artistic leap which вЂViva La Vida or Death And All His FriendsвЂ™ represents for the four friends collectively known as Coldplay. вЂњOr, if you like, we decided to let our garden grow a little more unkempt. вЂњThis album was fueled by a desire to move from black and white into colour,вЂќ says Coldplay frontman Chris Martin. Coldplay вЂ“ вЂViva La Vida or Death And All His FriendsвЂ™

Viva la vida coldplay album