Coldplay – Moon Music

Continuing their evolution from stadium rock anthems to cosmic soundscapes, Coldplay’s tenth studio album invites listeners to plunge into their weightless, otherworldly chords. While the rock band is no stranger to reinvention, Moon Music marks a return to the existential themes of their earlier work, now with a seasoned edge that acknowledges the passage of time.

The title is a clear nod to their previous release, Music of the Spheres (2021), where each track represents a celestial body within an imagined planetary system. Despite the reference to the moon, the album prominently features the rainbow – both in the cover art and in ALiEN HiTS/ALiEN RADiO, which is stylised as a single rainbow arc emoji on streaming platforms, serving as a callback to the kaleidoscopic, seven-coloured A Head Full of Dreams (2015).

True to the band’s long-standing interest in futuristic notes and pushing the boundaries of traditional rock and pop, the record leans into electronic and synthesised elements. The eponymous opening passage, featuring Jon Hopkins, is a cinematic score of shimmering instrumental layers – untethered by gravity yet anchored by Chris Martin’s gentle baritone. From the pulsing drama and electronic beats of WE PRAY to the whimsical, enchanting flow of ALiEN HiTS/ALiEN RADiO, there is an ethereal quality throughout the tracks, keeping listeners suspended in the celestial void, drifting from one orb to another. There is an ambience that is both boundless and familiar, resonating with the spirit of an explorer voyaging through the vast universe as well as that of a contemplative soul pondering the intricacies of life.

Predictably, Coldplay’s signature optimism lyrically overwhelms any contemplation. Most tracks – especially Good Feelings and iAAM – rely on melody instead of meaningful lyrics, often falling into repetition and clichés. The title track stands out with a single verse that exudes a rainbow-hued charm, radiating childlike wonder and a Disney-like quality, yet it ultimately falls short of showing genuine introspection. Celestial metaphors are overused, but they arguably provide a cohesive thread tying the album’s abstract musings with the more grounded. 

Overall, the album is an enjoyable addition to Coldplay’s extensive discography, venturing into new sonic territory, even if the lyrics remain familiar. Moon Music shoots for the stars, and just like any space mission, it grapples with its own shortcomings and failures along the way.

Christina Yang
Image: Anna Lee

Moon Music is released on 4^th October 2024. For further information or to order the album visit Coldplay’s website here.

Watch the video for the single WE PRAY here: