CP-EST

There's no real straight storyline to this concept. That's the thing about Coldplay always. There seem to be concepts, but they are vague. This is one thing what's annoying to a lot of people about Coldplay. At the same time this has also been their strength and what makes their music very universal - anyone may find their own way through time to connect to certain songs and have their own story with song. I think Music of the Spheres will make a bit more sense after the possible next volumes. So far for me it seems like the planets are just made to reflect certain issues or experiences, what humans are dealing with on the Earth. Sometimes these themes with each planet are a bit vague also, but the songs are basicly supposed to be written to each planet with the simple idea of "approach to each situation and everyone with love and positivity". That's what From Earth with Love means for me. And one way of looking at the "everyone is an alien somewhere" is thinking that each one of us can find themselves on any of these planets and relate to the issue or experience that the planet is trying to reflect.

I guess it's something at least I have written about before. Guitar music from mainstream is disappearing recently and that reflects in Coldplay's music as well. Other sounds (often electronic) just inspire bands and musicians a bit more. But actually on this album, I'm still impressed by some of the guitar sounds and the way Jonny uses guitar. In a lot of songs still you get this feel that his glistening guitar sound ties everything together. And yes in studio mix it's often a bit buried, but in live mix his playing is definitely more audible. For example Let Somebody Go in live - this guitar sound was again so different and interesting. So I would say at least in live with this album Jonny's sounds are more varied and unique than ever. That's what this album seems to be about, more experimenting with different sounds and production techniques, not experimenting that much with pure playing and songwriting like EL.

I see there's definitely some room for additional locations in the middle of North America leg and also in the middle of Europe leg. I doubt that they want to just waste these periods for taking a break. Also of course full leg of South America and Australia etc. But let's not forget there is such a long time to go still, we never know what would actually happen next year. If everything goes well, we could probably see another round of legs with different locations in 2023. I decided to go to Paris. Although it takes a little bit to travel there, I thought I should finally visit Paris and see this concert there. Stade de France is probably one of the best and largest venues to experience Coldplay show, I guess.

It seems like overall outcome will be quite similar to AHFOD. MOTS will be the album critics like to criticise intensively a little bit more than it actually deserves. It's easier to do that, than see and write about some positives. Criticising big bands feels always great and intriguing. But in the end Coldplay with the next tour will again deliver one of the best live shows in the world. I can see most of the new songs working great in stadium environment with visual effects. Anyway I think overall it's big step up from AHFOD, which for me gets quite boring and unimpressing halfway through. In my opinion MOTS feels like quite complete record overall, so it definitely deserves some praise for that, although it could have had more depth to this concept for sure. My inner music critic would give it overall rating of 7.5 after giving it several listens while driving with car and also sitting down and listening with headphones. It's an amazing work with production and blending different styles into complete feeling album, but the songwriting and lyrics are often too cheesy even by Coldplay standards. Just some comparison with postX&Y era "tour albums". For me AHFOD is 6.0, Mylo 8.5 and Viva 9.5.

Been listening to leak, quilty. Since everyone already discusses and writes about it, I'm adding a few thoughts. To start with, this album feels like a great journey and it flows surprisingly well, although it's quite eclectic. Definitely the concept of this album is very strong. Starting with with very high energy MotS->Higher Power->Humankind and then middle part is exploring some pretty diverse places and styles. Infinity Sign taking us into more dreamy and ethereal frequencies and then going into heavenly Coloratura. But oh that production! It's about the taste if people like it or not, but it's definitely their strongest and most varied production so far. They haven't been afraid to make studio versions of the songs sound like they should and let guitar and other stuff shine more in live performances. Also vocally it's their greatest. Let Somebody Go, just wow. I can see Max Martin has been giving some great advice and pushing Chris and everyone else to sing to their limits. And I love that everything somehow has very human and live feel, I get a feeling of themplaying together and Chris saying some phrases like "alright", "yeah" etc, for example in Humankind. Depth of songwriting is certainly a bit shadowed by all this, I think, but it definitely gives some great songs for stadium concerts. Humankind is definitely great euphoric stadium rocker and People of the Pride is just crazy.

They probably just get lost in the Spheres and find it difficult to get back to our Solar System.

Asking if it leaked won't help. If it leaks properly then don't worry you will hear about it immediately. Anyone wants to do some research and find out leak date for each previous album? I think this is the record indeed with three days to go until the release without leak.

I just like this "Parental advisory explicit content" sticker. I wonder if the story about certain era ending with AHFOD means our boys finally felt they are now old enough to drop some f-bombs in their songs.

Based on what I have heard so far (full songs and clips) I think that this album is going to be surprisingly good, Production and mixing seems constantly great and varied. And it seems like they have done album, where each song is going to distinctively stand out on its own. That's a great thing, this concept is strong, probably stronger than Mylo, but it's not quite achieving Mylo level overall. It's certainly better than AHFOD, but Mylo, Viva, A Rush of Blood, Parachutes and Everyday Life have more this raw songwriting quality. I kind of feel like MoTS is certainly lacking a bit this pure songwriting x-factor and it seems to be opinion what most of Coldplayers agree. Production is going to foreshadow the songwriting overall for sure. Of course there are occasional great gems in this one too, not saying it's all terrible.

I wouldn't say there's zero percent probability of this being a single. This song exists and is on the album, so there already is more chance than that. As I wrote before "if someone gave it a chance", it could be quite interesting as single. Definitely it would stand out more than some ballad or another synth pop song. Especially if they promote it smartly with a great video. I think it's more about their record label in this case, if they want to let Coldplay have such single, because for record label with each album Coldplay is a certain kind of product, which they try to put into certain box, but with this eclectic album it seems difficult. It's unlikely that they choose this song for a single, but you never know as there is probably at least 2 singles coming from album still. Let's not forget, their label wanted to take Viva la Vida off the album at some point, but luckily it stayed. So I hope their record label has learned to be more brave and release, what's interesting and good.

Everyone is speechless after Coloratura live performance on Howard Stern? Guys, that deserves some discussing!? This performance seemed like a band exam. Firstly it's such a complex piece of music and secondly everything was filmed up close and live. They delivered it perfectly. The live arrangement of the song is just amazingly done and let's them play their hearts out. It's up there as one of the most beautiful band performances ever. Next goal: seeing this live in person?

Wow, that's a great and unique sounding song. In contrary to My Universe, which is playing it quite safe and be a simple K-Pop hit. I got a feeling that it's one of those songs, which could become a surprise hit, if someone gave it a chance. It's rhythmically really catchy and full of unique memorable twists and sections. Love this production of rhythm sections and Will's big sounding drums and Chris has really thought through how to perform it... Those moves are just ridiculously authentic and cool. Can't wait to hear the studio version. I'm afraid it will be probably less raw and softer han live version.

For sure it will be arranged a bit differently for live performance. Although the complexity of this song makes me a bit worried too, I see a lot of ways how to make killer live performance out of it. And I totally see Jonny playing some synths live, maybe even Guy as well. There have been quite a lot songs before that, where they figured out a great live version and I doubt that they let complexity of studio version to be an obstacle to play this great song live. I might be wrong, but I totally feel that Will saying in Greg James interview "his favourite song will be played in some form" could refer to Coloratura. Also it makes sense if they chose to try it instead of Life is for Living as a set closer, but we'll see.

It's difficult to compare openers and closers separately. They all work in the album context really well. From openers Politik and Square One are the best songs for me. But considering how openers work in stadium concert setlist, I think it's a tie between AHFOD and MX/Hurts Like Heaven - both are really effective and work well with visuals. Politik is the opener with the most depth and quality, but it doesn't let the band to connect to crowd that easily. AHFOD does a great job with involving the audience already on 2nd or 3rd minute of the concert + this legendary jump by Chris! It seems like almost everything about it was designed to be a perfect concert opener. I think MOTS/Higher Power could be a very effective concert opener as well, but probably not the best imo. For sure the most danceable and energetic, feels like it's taking something from HLH and AHFOD both, but we'll see how it really works in context of the whole MOTS concert. About closers, again they all are good for their respective albums and most of the closers are amongst the best Coldplay songs for me. Talking about using album closers as concert closers, I think in a way Coloratura is the concert closer they have been moving towards all these years. It's symphonic, anthemic, cinematic, emotional and unifying the crowd at the same time, while the whole band shines playing it. In someway it combines all of the previous closers together and it gives the most ethereal feel. This is the song I want to experience live, but I guess, thinking about the next Coldplay stadium show in the current pandemic situation is pretty much still a dream in A Head Full of Dreams and Coloratura is a place we dream about. ?

Okay, I didn't get that feeling though. For me there is no way My Universe is Will's favourite song of these new ones and I can't see anything about My Universe, what makes them say like it's special and very different.

Any ideas, when we might get to see this song performed live? Anyone knows what was the not broadcasted secret song they performed for BBC Big Weekend? From the interview with Greg James it seems like at the end of the set they were going to play some new song instead of Life Is For Living. I'm just wondering if it was Coloratura and if will be able to see it anytime. It will be exciting to see, how it's arranged for live performance and of course hear some bits from Jonny higher up in mix.

I think Max Martin is best for Coldplay right now. There's a reason why he's so successful and a lot of people don't actually realise exactly why. He might seem like a pop producer and pop songwriter, but he's so much more. He actually started in rock music and his versatility is actually limitless, in studio he is allround great, because he is actually good at engineering and mixing too, but he doesn't do that much himself anymore. I think it's a great opportunity for him as well to work with a band and prove through Coldplay that he's very versatile. And it's very important they have someone who's got hunger to produce. Brian Eno on the other hand is a bit different producer, he has produced a LOT for different bands already. I wouldn't exlcude him working again with Coldplay, but right it's probably not in their minds. Brian Eno has produced for U2 on several occasions and he has always capability to bring something new, so who knows what future brings.

I thought this "PM me" culture is forbidden. Are all the moderators on Coloratura now? ?

Which song? Coloratura is a symphony ? I mean, I appreciate you could find a number to rate it. For me honestly Coloratura isn't something to give ratings to, it's too unique.

I think they really did something big here. The progression of it is quite unexpected and totally unique. They really showed their depth here. Amazing symphony. Not much to say, in my opinion this is their greatest song so far.

It will be very interesting to see how It will progress. With such long songs the magic is in progression and how it is built up. I just hope it's not too good, because from my experience when I listen to a really great 10 minute song many times, time goes really fast. Just kidding, I'm ready to listen it until the morning or until I just fall asleep while listening. ? But some long songs... Of course I like lots of these, but some of which I listen right now: Mew - Comforting Sounds Then of course Jon Hopkins has some good ones. For expample Open Eye Signal. Nils Frahm - All Melody M83 - Solitude

Since all of it is a speculation, here's a plot twist... We already had volume 2 with all the versions and performances of Higher Power. ? Anyway, it's nice to see that Coldplay is giving us material for endless speculations and discussions to keep Coldplayers' minds busy. Can't wait to find out about the other volumes of MotS. Also I guess, with Max Martin included in songwriting process, more of the ideas could find their way to fully formed songs, so it's no wonder if they have been very productive and have music for more than one album. Not long to go until we can listen to Coloratura. Final songs of the LPs/EPs tend to be great and epic, so I guess this one is no exception. Considering they decided to use it in hand with album announcement as promotional song for the album, this must be really special. Also the way it's described and introduced so far. Phil describing the planet Coloratura being like heaven. Also the fact, that song has the same name as planet, although it's probably more like a nebula. Nebulas are quite complicated systems, they can even have their own planets. So, this kind of supports the theory that Coloratura is a transition song to the next volume. From the clips and information we have, soundwise it will probably be a piano driven prog rock symphony with Coldplay twist, where the whole band can really shine. Writing credits reveal that, they really go all in with strings (Davide Rossi and John Metcalfe). It's more of a speculation now, but the fact that Paris Strother from King is also included in credits, makes me hope for some prog rock spacy sounding keyboards. To put it short, I'm just imagining some mix of Everything's Not Lost, Hypnotised and Moving to Mars.

I think it won't matter on macro scale at all. It is getting hyped in a circle of hardcore fans. Full leak doesn't change much, because it still will not be easily accessible. Most of the people these days would prefer a comfortable listen, not searching for music on suspicions websites. So I don't see Coldplay and their record label letting this situation blackmail them to change the release schedule.

Anyone else thought that on Friday we are getting 10 minutes and 18 seconds of new music... That's almost like 3 Higher Powers in length. ?

Holy moly, I dreamed of Coloratura being a prog rock with epic outro, let this be true please