STACK #204 Oct 2021

MUSIC FEATURE

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Coldplay L-R: Will Champion, Chris Martin, Johnny Buckland, Guy Berryman

FEATURE

Music Of The Spheres by Coldplay is out Octoober 15, including on recycled splatter vinyl (above), via Universal.

After announcing their ninth album in July, Coldplay have drip-fed us the dreamy details and celestial sounds of what promises to be their most gargantuan album to date: the outerspace-gazing Music Of The Spheres . Words Zoë Radas COLDPLAY GO WHERE ALIENS SPHERE TO TREAD

extensive philanthropic efforts. The band famously cancelled touring plans in 2019 (to support eighth album Everyday Life ) due to environmental impact concerns, instead choosing to perform two shows in Jordan's capital Amman – which were livestreamed on YouTube – and one show at London's Natural History Museum, the proceeds of which went to charity. This month, they'll be the first ever act to perform at the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, a zero carbon venue. GLASTONBURY GOALS In May this year, Coldplay played their record-extending fifth headline slot for the Glastonbury Festival. (Just behind them are Radiohead, who have headlined four times, and Oasis, who've completed three headline sets.) The performance was filmed on

THE ISS INCIDENT Music Of The Spheres ' first single Higher Power was given its first ever official spin 408 kilometres above our heads. In May, the band linked with French ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet – currently aboard the International Space Station – and spoke about climate change, tour life versus ISS life, and the possible existence of ET life. Then Pesquet had the honour of hitting 'play' on a specially-recorded video of Coldplay performing Higher Power (with dancing alien holograms). A NEON ANNOUNCEMENT The album's imminent arrival was disclosed via this hand-written note from the London five-piece, which hinted at an otherwordly theme with its scrawled planets and the postscript “Everyone is an alien somewhere.” VINYL REVIVAL Music Of The Spheres will be available in JB Hi-Fi stores on CD as well as vinyl – but it ain't your regular black 180gram fare. The LP has

the actual Glastonbury site of Worthy Farm and broadcast to ticketholders across the world, as were several other sets: HAIM and Damon Albarn each appeared within the smoky Stone Circle, IDLES shredded a janky cowshed, and Jorja Smith's set came nestled from under the branches of an enormous, peach-lit tree. Coldplay went the full-headline- hog; standing to the side of the fest's iconic Pyramid Stage amongst a sea of grass-level lanterns, they opened with Higher Power – replete with fireworks

been pressed on 140gm recycled vinyl, which means the splatter-colouring of each copy will be totally original. The decision will come as no surprise to those who are familiar with Coldplay's

– then moved through their enduring hits The Scientist, Fix You, Clocks, A Sky Full Of Stars, and Viva la Vida , before finishing on fresh single from Music Of The Spheres, Human Heart .

82 OCTOBER 2020

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