I love the opening forty seconds of ‘Violet Hill’, even though I know the radio will always cut it. I’ve always been a sucker for swirling soundscapes and had Chris and the boys called it quits when Eno steps back and the whacking begins, I would have been happy. Sadly, the Coldplay boys have to go and spoil it all with a song that at best could be described as adequate, despite its efforts to look like a musically muscle-bound bouncer at a festival.

Because the fact the opening forty seconds of noise are the most interesting moments of this piece do not bode well, do they. When it does finally start, it’s ponderous, over produced, thumping you into submission with little emotion or passion. Guitars squeal like slaughterhouse pigs and the solo is no-where near as impressive as it wants to be.

I am sure this song will sound colossal live with sparky pulsing lights to the beat of the dum-dum, but it is hardly an invitation to promote much promise in the new album. It lacks the sonic punch found in ‘Speed of Sound’ and is more of a throw-away b-side than a glorious return. “If you love me, won’t you let me know? ”. I am going to have to be a no on that one I’m afraid. Whilst I am still interested to hear what the album has to offer, my anticipation is now somewhat diminished.
48%

What do you, dear readers, think of the new Coldplay single? Let us know below…