Live its a backing track.
What also puzzles me is how whoever controls the backing track manages to get it in time with the band. Live, they may play at a slightly slow or faster speed, thus throwing the backing piece out of time. Strange.
Who is it (and how!) that creates the really ambient sounds that feature in certain songs (most noticeably in Clocks and Speed of Sound).
Is this a studio trick? Im really interested to find out how they achieved such an effects, they really do add to the songs. Especially when the guitar/piano drops out leaving just bass and drums in the verses.
Thanks