Rhythm Section

By Kevin Bridges

Coldplay have certainly reinforced their place as one of the country’s biggest acts with their latest album Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends. 

The album has topped the charts worldwide and they recently announced a world tour which includes two nights at Glasgow’s SECC on December 5 and 6.

The band are rightly thrilled with their new music and say they decided to try to stretch themselves as a band, taking themselves out of their comfort zone. They admit to having been inspired by an early Blur track.

“The starting point for this album was listening to Sing (To Me). I remember hearing it and thinking, ‘Okay, we need to get better as a band,’ said frontman Chris Martin.

Plagiarists

“We are the worst, but the most enthusiastic of plagiarists. We copy things and tend to come up with something that sounds like us. 

“We started writing the day we finished the last album as we felt we still had a hunger. After concerts we’d write through the night. When you come off stage there’s a four-hour period of adrenalin and most nights we’d write. 

“The key rule for the new album was to throw out the old tricks — we could steal from anybody except ourselves. It can be easy to stop trying things because you’re scared of what people might say.”

One of the ways they decided to shake things up was by getting top producer Brian Eno involved. They were amazed at the different approaches he brought.

“We had a meeting with him where we were asking for his advice. We said, ‘Brian, we really want to change things. Who do you know that’s good?’ and he went, ‘Well I could have a go’.

“Every day with him was like ‘Show and Tell’ at school — he would bring in something to hear or to look at. He even brought in a hypnotist one day. 

“It was a bit like school and we regarded him as a teacher. We’d come in and wait to see what Sir said. He made us feel liberated, without weight of expectation or burden of our past. We didn’t feel like Coldplay so I suppose it’s the Coldplay album that it’s okay to like,” laughed Chris.

Imagination

Drummer Will Champion found the session with the hypnotist in the studio very interesting.

“He talked us through the possibilities of what you can do when you’re in a state where there are no constraints on your imagination. Then we played some music.” 

Eno also got the band playing music together. “About 80 per cent of what you hear was recorded with the four of us in a circle playing together. That’s a pretty unusual way to record these days but it’s the ultimate fun of being in a band,” said Chris.

The guys were keen to make sure the album had no filler material so they were very strict about keeping the songs short and only putting 10 on the final list.

“We spent a long time making things as short as they could be, even though it meant leaving off some tracks that we love,” said Chris.

Distinctive

Coldplay have a distinctive sound and Chris’s voice has a lot to do with that so it’s a surprise the album opens with an instrumental.

Christ explained, “We wanted to have the best ringtone of all time. Also I didn’t want to sing for a few minutes so people who don’t like us could enjoy the album for a while.

“It’s all to do with the insecurity we have. It’s about feeling we’re the best band in the world but also like we haven’t done anything good yet. I wanted this record to prove us worthy of the position we’ve been given. 

“There’s no question we’ve come out of this process a better band. Whatever anyone makes of the record, when we play live we’re going to be on fire. Ultimately, however cerebral you try to get about it, this album is there to entertain people — to provide 42 minutes of enjoyment with 10 great songs that will each be someone’s favourite.”

Chris thinks the variety on the record and the occasional departure from what people might expect is a great thing.

“The last album was like an enormous multipack of Weetabix — very tasty if you like Weetabix but even the biggest Weetabix fan would be tired after the 19th pack. This new album is more like muesli — lots of different fruits and nuts,” he laughed.

When it comes to making mega-selling rock music Coldplay still know how to snap, crackle and pop!

For more about the band, go to their official website at coldplay.com

Competition

WIN the new Now collection

The NOW series of chart hit compilations continues to go from strength to strength with the latest release NOW 70 proving to be another must-have for serious pop fans.

Boasting 43 tracks over two CDs, it really is the best way to get all the top hits in one superb package.

If it’s Number One hits you’re looking for, then there are plenty here. American Boy by Estelle featuring Kanye West is included, along with current chart-topper Dance Wiv Me by Dizzee Rascal featuring Calvin Harris and Chrome.

Hits

Other huge current hits you’ll find on this collection are Sam Sparro’s great Black And Gold and Duffy’s Warwick Avenue. It also has the hit that won’t go away — Gabriella Cilmi’s Sweet About Me.

As always, there’s a range of artists, so you’ll also find tracks from Kylie Minogue, Sugababes and The Ting Tings as well as some great soul numbers from Mariah Carey and Leona Lewis.

Basically every pop great of the past few weeks is included — from Basshunter to Coldplay.

As ever, I have 10 copies of this great album to give away this week.

To have a chance of being one of the lucky winners, send in the answer to this question —

For the question, see the July 20 edition of The Sunday Post. For info on subscribing to the paper, click here. 

Just e-mail your answer to rhythm@sundaypost.com with the subject as “Now 70 Comp” by clicking on the above link and adding your answer, name, address and daytime phone number to the email it should create.

First 10 correct entries drawn on Friday, July 25, win a copy each.

Employees of D.C.Thomson & Co. Ltd, and their close relatives, may not enter. The Editor’s decision is final. This is a joint promotion between The Sunday Post and  EMI TV.

Albums of the Month	July 2008
Coldplay Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends (Parlophone) The eagerly-awaited fourth album from Chris Martin and Co is lavishly packaged and was preceded by many rumours that the band had moved on from their trademark sound. In truth this really isn’t too much of a departure from the world-conquering laidback sound that’s been copied by umpteen bands over the years.  The production is crisp and the album is concise. While musically the band stretch themselves a little, they never stray too far from the winning formula and the album is tuneful enough to keep their legion of followers satisfied. Perhaps they’ll never be truly experimental or innovative. But then again who really wants them to be?
Alanis Morissette Flavors Of Entanglement (Maverick) Some 13 years since her breakthrough, Alanis is still as angst-ridden as ever on this great new album. Musically and lyrically this is powerful stuff. The ballad Torch is tormented and heart wrenching yet also beautifully tuneful.  While she may never return to the commercial heights of Jagged Little Pill, this album is hugely enjoyable and deserves attention.
Usher Here I Stand (Sony/BMG) It’s been four years since the R&B star’s last album but fans will think this was well worth the wait.  There’s a maturity in these tracks as well as a wide range of styles. True, there are a few up-tempo grooves, but the feel is slower and more old school soul than hip hop.  Unfortunately over 19 tracks quality is bound to vary. But for every dud there are a couple of masterpieces. In fact, in Moving Mountains and the superlative closing track Will Work For Love there’s soul balladeering that Stevie and Marvin would be proud of.
Fleet Foxes Fleet Foxes (Bella Union) This album is a true delight from start to finish as the band from Seattle take the ’60s folk styles of the American West Coast as their inspiration.  With luscious harmonies and haunting melodies, they’re redolent of The Byrds and The Mamas And The Papas. The instrumentation is often simple, allowing the strength of the vocals to come through.  At its best on the final track, Oliver James, the effect is riveting. Perfect summer music.
Seth Lakeman Poor Man’s Heaven (Relentless) A POWERFUL album that seems set to catapult this folk-rock singer into the mainstream.  It’s vibrant folk with a modern twist but which always remains true to its roots.  Marrying traditional folk instruments with 21st Century production works well and with Seth’s image he could be the poster boy for folk music for a whole new generation. Donna Summer Crayons (Sony/BMG) The queen of disco is back with her first album in 17 years. Unsurprisingly there’s a retro feel to many of the tracks and some of the material is patchy. However there’s always that voice to make you sit up and take notice. Amid all the synthesisers and dance rhythms it was sometimes missed that she has a humdinger of a voice.  Luckily it’s still in fine fettle and when this album really hits its stride it’s like being in a glorious time warp. Jamie Lidell Jim (Warp) This is an entertaining package of pop-soul, based around Jamie’s extremely strong voice.  Sounding occasionally like a cross between Seal and Terence Trent D’Arby, the tracks here beg to be played on radio.  If feelgood soul is your thing, you’ll enjoy this album. The Music Strength In Numbers (Polydor) There’s a stronger dance element to this new album than the last, with punchy electronics beefing up the indie sound on a number of tracks.  Whether or not it’s distinctive enough to raise itself above the pack remains to be seen.  An interesting listen but perhaps not an essential one.

© All copyright D.C. Thomson & Co. Ltd., 2008