On the mournful “Oceans,” Martin’s falsetto flings itself against an acoustic guitar and holds on for dear life. “You’re always in my head,” Martin croons on the hushed opener, prodded on by guitarist Jonny Buckland’s chiming riff he keeps that vow for 43 raw minutes.
Instead of broad, arms-outstretched choruses and irresistible, foot-stomping anthems, there are whimpers and wails that recall the anguished warbling of Kanye West‘s 808s & Heartbreak or Bon Iver’s Bon Iver. The result is a Coldplay LP unlike anything the band has done before.
For the first time in ages, Martin isn’t trying to “Fix You.” Now he needs to repair himself. The record comes just two months after Martin and his wife of a decade, Gwyneth Paltrow, announced their “conscious uncoupling” – outwardly a breakup with the best intentions, but a split all the same. But what happens when he doesn’t have someone to write all those lush ballads for?Ĭoldplay‘s sixth album is called Ghost Stories, and there’s a blond phantom obviously haunting its nine tracks. Since we met Chris Martin 14 years ago, he’s been a trusted emotional shepherd, nudging us to hear the clanging bells, marvel at the stars, glow in the dark, obey our hearts.