Coldplay Drop First Song in Two Years for 'Hunger Games' Soundtrack
In the two years since the release of Coldplay's chart-dominating 2011 LP Mylo Xyloto, frontman Chris Martin has remained fairly quiet; he popped up in the Hamptons to support his wifey, Gwyneth Paltrow, as she highjacked a literary event to promoted her new cook book; he hit a Manchester United vs. Arsenal football (cough, soccer) match in London with his mate Jay Z and is even rumored to be recording for U2's new LP. But now Martin and his band are back to work, releasing their first new material in two years with "Atlas," featured on the soundtrack to The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. Watch and listen above.
The track opens, like many a Coldplay song, with tender, spare piano tinkles and Martin's crooning. Soon, ethereal synth washes enter (did Brian Eno produce "Atlas," like the band's last few LPs?) and on a brief lull, when Martin whispers the word "explode," drums enter, colorful guitar riffs (think Phish filtered through Tron) noodle into the atmosphere. The piano rises and Martin wails: "Carry your world / Carry your world / Carry your world!!!"
It's a welcome return and hopefully signals the beginning of another album. After all, history says the Brit soft-rockers drop an LP every three years—better get cracking, lads, 2014 is just around the corner.
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