COLDPLAY have given NME.COM the world exclusive first listen to their third album – and CHRIS MARTIN has said making it has been one of the most difficult experiences of his life.
NME was the first publication in the world to hear songs set for the follow-up to 2002’s ‘A Rush Of Blood To The Head’ when we were invited to their studio in west London. The group were still putting the finishing touches to the currently untitled record, which is due in spring.
The band say the pressure to top ‘A Rush Of Blood To The Head’ has at times crippled their creativity. Early sessions with long time producer Ken Nelson were scrapped and the band went back into rehearsals as a four-piece band before attempting the album for a second time with new producer Danton Supple.
Chris Martin told NME.COM: “Writing is what we’ve been doing all day, every day. It’s been quite turbulent. We’ve been through a lot of songs and a lot of sounds, a lot of studios. It took us a long time to realise the four of us should go into a rehearsal room again and play together rather than rely on technological assistance.”
NME.COM heard six tracks – ‘Square One’, ‘Talk’, ‘‘Till Kingdom Come’, ‘X&Y’, ‘What If’ and ‘The Hardest Part’. The material shows a huge progression from the classic Coldplay sound, mixing their trademark anthems with ’70s electronica. Kraftwerk, [/a] and Brian Eno are all influences, while ‘Talk’ features the riff from [a]’s ‘Computer Love’.
Martin continued: “We’ve got some fucking good songs. That’s one thing we are sure of. I don’t think we’ll top this. I always say that, but this time I really mean it. I really don’t think we’ll top it.”
Live plans will be announced once the album is completed. The full, world exclusive interview plus brand new pictures are only published in this week’s issue of NME, which is out now nationwide.