Moon Music

Sure, its precious, a little naive, and maybe overly optimistic, but why cant we dream big and hope for the best in this life? Coldplays mantra -- "Love is the only answer" -- aims to achieve that unity and positivity thats so lacking in the world today, using Moon Music as another play to help humanity get there. Picking up where Music of the Spheres left off, this companion piece, named for the "phases" in life, is as exploratory and spacey as the title suggests. While Spheres jolted listeners at light speed from planet to imaginary planet, Moon Music drifts further into the unexplored depths of the galaxy, catching signals of songs here and there. The opening title track -- an introspective confessional that finds Chris Martin in search of something (and someone) more -- recalls the piano-tinkles-as-starlight-twinkles portions of "Coloratura," blending seamlessly into the sugary-sweet "feelslikeimfallinginlove," elevating that pop-kissed single to something even more ebullient in the context of this record. Recalling "Humankind"s unabashed hope and optimism, the inspirational "iAAM" aims for heavenly inspiration, veering close to being a praise and worship song. Meanwhile, the funky, radio-ready "GOOD FEELiNGS" (with vocalist Ayra Starr, guest guitarist Nile Rodgers, and co-writers/producers The Chainsmokers) sounds like "Adventure of a Lifetime" big bang-birthing "My Universe," Part 2. While these more obvious moments seem primed to be singles, less immediate standouts provide the interesting bits of Moon Music that should stand the test of time. From arguably the most popular band on the planet at the time of this albums release, "WE PRAY" is a culmination of that globally unifying energy, a call to action that recruits English rapper Little Simz, Nigerian superstar Burna Boy, Argentine entertainer Tini, and Palestinian Chilean singer/songwriter Elyanna on an urgent plea that blends dramatic strings and an aggressive hip-hop beat. The exploratory mid-album epic, denoted on the track listing with an image of a rainbow, is revealed in the liner notes as "Angelsong/M.U.S.I.C./Man in the Moon/Alien Hits-Alien Radio: Opus 5/Sunshine/Neon Forest/The Karate Kid," a six-minute journey through a stadium-sized blend of shoegaze, new age, acoustic folk, classical piano, and a potent Maya Angelou sample that reminds us to focus on the rainbows in life. Finally, live favorite "AETERNA" cuts straight to the chase on an electro-bliss mega-mix fit for your favorite alien nightclub. Like so many of their recent efforts, its a lot to take on: the freeform snapshots and contemplative experimentation recall the scrapbook approach of Everyday Life, while at its poppiest, Moon Music returns listeners to A Head Full of Dreams and Music of the Spheres. As a sibling set (hinted both in the liner notes of its predecessor and here as "Music of the Spheres vol ii"), it does feel like a B-sides, heres-whats-left collection at times, for better or worse. However, for fans clamoring for more of anything from Berryman, Buckland, Champion, and Martin, thisll do the trick. As Martin sings on the closing track "One World" -- which contains over a hundred thousand fan voices from over 200 countries -- "In the end, its just love." ~ Neil Z. Yeung

すでに全世界でヒットを記録し、10年ぶりに全米1位にも返り咲いた待望のニュー・アルバム。光を放つようなクリス・マーティンの温かい歌声が今回も色鮮やかに輝き、先行曲でのバーナ・ボーイやティニらも、チェインスモーカーズも関わった"Good Feelings"でのアイラ・スターも、懐の深いビートを備えた音世界に柔らかく溶け込んでいる。長年の仲間となるチビル・ラーコとダン・グリーン、ジョン・ホプキンス、そして近年のブレーンであるマックス・マーティン軍団をプロデューサーに迎えたサウンドは重厚にして洗練された浮遊感を湛え、ルイス・コールをネタ使いした"Aeterna"など隅々まで聴きどころが多し。
bounce (C)狛犬