Kaleidoscopic, cinematic, celestial, as someone who follows the lunar cycles with interest, the tenth studio album from Coldplay was always going to strike the proverbial chord. It’s no coincidence that I am writing this today (October 2nd) on both a New Moon and the Libra Solar Eclipse which is all about new beginnings, and confronting change so that we are in the right place, at the right time.

Whilst the new is centred around their new album ‘Moon Magic’, the end is in sight for Coldplay as a recording band who have indicated that after album number 12, they will retire from recording and will focus solely on touring instead with Chris Martin saying: “The story of our albums ends then”.

In the meantime, there’s ‘Moon Music’ which is an intergalactic sonic adventure. The moon and Coldplay have a lot in common, both are a force to be reckoned with and ‘Moon Magic’ might just be the band’s most expansive and intriguing album to date.

Frontman Chris Martin has described ‘Moon Music’ as “our response to all the conflict both internal and external”, adding that “it’s the way we as a band feel about everything. The way we try to stay positive in a world where it feels like there’s so much negativity. The way we try to keep things together, when there are some forces trying to pull them apart”.

With an emphasis on resilience, it’s clear that ‘Moon Music’ is coming from a place of earnest authenticity. In these tough times, it’s never been more important to look for the positives in life and Chris Martin adds that: “This album is about some of our personal challenges, but a lot about other people’s challenges. There’s never been an easier time to give up, and so this is a record about not doing that…”

‘Moon Music’ leads on from the band’s prequel album ‘Music Of The Spheres’ and is the perfect vehicle for the biggest optimists in the music industry. The opening titular track leads in with orchestral soaring overtures that reach the dizzy heights of two minutes 52 seconds before Chris Martin utters the line “once upon a time, I tried to get myself together…” the song leads into the importance of embracing your emotions as opposed to “being a brick in the wall”.

‘Moon Music’s overarching theme is the universal message of love, but this record is also powered by hope and optimism. As Chris Martin says “The older I get, the more I believe that love is the only answer”.

The lovein continues with the punctuation lacking ‘Feelslikeimfallinginlove’ which swirls and frothes like an effervescent shooting star in the sky. There are no spaces required in this song title when you are falling in love! It’s euphoric, evocative and emotive with the powerhouse lyrics: “It feels like I’m falling in love / Maybe for the first time / Baby, it’s in my mind / You blow / It feels like I’m falling in love / You’re throwing me a lifeline / This is for a lifetime / I know…”

Coldplay invites a stellar line up of guest vocalists such as Little Simz, Burna Boy, Elyanna and Tini on the anthemic and dramatic ‘WE PRAY’ which is a rallying battle cry about the power of prayer. They sing and pray for ‘someone to come and show me the way’. It feels very much in the spirit of ‘Viva La Vida’ and you can’t deny the sentiment of the message of the song.

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I didn’t have Coldplay using the humble emoji as a song title on my Coldplay 2024 bingo card, but this is ‘Moon Music’ so the ambient-fuelled 🌈 doesn’t feel too out of the ordinary! The song weaves in a recording of poet and activist Maya Angelou stating that “I had a lot of clouds, but I’ve had so many rainbows” as the lush, cinematic instrumental soars and flows.

The weakest track on the album is the plodding ‘ONE WORLD’ which has all the good intentions of trying to affect world peace, but it feels a little trite and lacks depth and in large parts feels like a piece of background muzak that accompanies a wildlife programme showing moving footage of majestic wildlife. 

‘GOOD FEELiNGS’ with the brilliant Ayra Starr brings the feel-good factor and a shed load of disco-infused funk which along with heartfelt ‘JUPiTER’ are certain to be new live fan favourites with the band crying that the “message from above is never give up” and is set to be an anthem thanks to the lines of “I love who I love” and overcoming societal pressures to be the person you are meant to be.

‘ALL MY LOVE’ is a beautiful piano-driven song that takes inspiration from the likes of Elton John and The Beatles and talks of ‘holding on together’. The lyrics feel a smidge earnest particularly when it comes to lyrics like ‘Whether it rains or pours, I’m all yours’ on ‘ALL MY LOVE’ and ‘I’ll be back on my feet again, cos I am a mountain’ on ‘ iAAM’ with the formerline in particular feels like a Valentine’s greeting card writer’s dream! Whilst this does err slightly on the side of saccharine earnestness, for some reason it works and who could deny Coldplay’s enthusiasm for those all-important loved up vibes when they are so disarmingly charming. 

As you might expect, the band have used new sustainability standards whilst making ‘Moon Music’ with all physical releases of the album made from plastic bottles recovered from consumer waste which the band have said will reduce carbon emissions by 85% and prevent the manufacture of more than 25 metric tonnes of virgin plastic. The group has been at the forefront of the move to make the music industry more sustainable and managed to curtail the ‘Music Of The Spheres’ tour carbon emissions by 59% using inventive methods such as kinetic dance floors and stadium power bikes to generate electricity.

‘Moon Music’ feels like the best friend who helps you through the dark hours of 3am and takes you through the most beautiful sunrise when daylight breaks. It reminds us of the power of love, hope and indeed music can overcome those dark days and the importance of trusting in the universe and more importantly yourself.

8/10

Words: Emma Harrison // @emmahwriter

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