To say there has been a lot of anticipation for Coldplays fourth album, Viva La Vida, is an understatement. Having enlisted legendary leftfield producer Brian Eno, borrowed their album title from a painting by renowned Mexican artist Frida Kahlo and made tantalising remarks about sonic reinvention, the world has been curious (to say the least) to hear what the ˜new Coldplay might sound like. Viva La Vida definitely makes some departures from the bands usual formula, which happens to be one of the most commercially successful rock-pop blueprints of recent years. The plangent chords, emotive melodies, stadium-rock rhythms and universal lyrical concerns remain, but Martin and co. have gone out on several limbs here, incorporating instrumental tracks ("Life In Technicolour"), using subtle North African and Latin elements ("Yes", "Strawberry Swing"), and overhauling previously strict verse-chorus-verse structures in favour of slightly more avant arrangements. The old Coldplay still shine through (see tracks like "Violet Hill" and the title song) but even their classic sound feels more muscular and confident. The bands new flourishes, cosmetic and self-conscious as they may be, are enough to make Viva La Vida a welcome break from the old routine --Danny McKennaPeople en Espa±ol Cuando Coldplay anunci³ con bombo y platillo que su cuarto disco, bajo el ambicioso ttulo de Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends, vendra acompa±ado de la producci³n de Brian Eno, dos escenarios se convertan en posibilidad: o se trataba de su peor ¡lbum o la obra maestra de su carrera. Afortunadamente, la producci³n de Eno no lleva a la banda brit¡nica a imitar a U2 por ningºn momento, y en cambio, el grupo liderado por Chris Martin presenta el mejor disco en su trayectoria, ofreciendo un sonido distinto, en el que por fin se alejan del pianito hartante de sus primeros tres ¡lbumes y suenan como lo que siempre prometieron ser: una de las mejores bandas del mundo. "Life In Technicolor," "Viva la Vida," y sobre todo el tema "Lost!," representan a Coldplay en su momento cumbre. --Ernesto S¡nchez (People en Espa±ol)
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