Music This Week: Chris and the Sugar Factory

Banner: Parlophone records

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After crawling through the lowlands of self-pity in their dolorous but forgettable last album, Ghost Stories, one that came from the vantage point of lead vocalist Christ Martin’s ‘conscious uncoupling’ with wife Gwyneth Paltrow, British rock band Coldplay tries an absolute U-turn in their latest — A Head Full of Dreams. There are soaring eagles, among other winged creatures, and stars in the galaxy, even vocals from Paltrow, who sings over some electronics and piano in Everglow. Other guest positions have been given to Noel Gallaghar, Beyonce and Norwegian pop producers Stargate.

If Coldplay’s seventh album is going to be their swan song, a thought that has already been hinted at (The completion of something and/Change in the winds, Martin sings), then Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion, Phil Harvey and Martin have stirred up 10 songs, which are catchy and happy, and will work wonderfully on their upcoming tours. But sometimes, there is too much happiness and awe, and sugar. Instead of that happy high, it makes one feel a little nauseous. With sometimes chalky lyrics, excellent choruses and beautiful arrangements (it’s still a Coldplay album), the album ends up being infectious. It tries to follow the kaleidoscopic imagery of Mylo Xyloto and delivers addictive melodies with lyrical cliches.

The opening beat in the title song provides a gleaming groove just before going into ‘woah oh oh’ and their conventional avenues. The reinvention dies out just before it starts to soar. The second one, Birds, hits us well with drums and a guitar riff. Those drums pound and Martin sings along, ending abruptly. The silence quickly seagues into a scant intro piece by Beyonce in one of the better tracks, Hymn for the weekend. She ad-libs as a piano provides the back melody. The effect is nice enough. Just not as powerful as Princess of China, where Rihanna’s distant approach worked beautifully with Martin’s voice.

You make me feel like I’m alive again, he croons in Adventure of a lifetime. The song, and somehow the whole album, begins to sound like a conscious recoupling record now (Martin is seeing actor Jennifer Lawrence). A pulsating bass line is beautiful here, so is the drum loop that makes the song stand up.

Fun isn’t much fun musically. It’s that middle-of-the-pack melody with a soft, echoing riff layered with Martin’s voice and a muted drum machine backbeat. What lets the album dive back into oddness is Kaleidoscope, featuring President Obama singing Amazing Grace. Like you would believe that. Yes, do it. Martin has placed a jarring note on number seven. Up and up, the final piece featuring all the guest artistes, has a line, We’re gonna get it together, before Gallagher delivers a farewell guitar solo. The song resurrects everything. It’s dreamy, yes, and a complete sing-along track.

Overall, this album embodies Coldplay as a band. It goes back and forth, is positive and melancholic. It, however, isn’t the bang, one that we can allow them to go out with. Just another, probably, “heart” full of dreams now. Chris Martin, are you listening?