Coldplay perform new album tracks at church gig for fans in Hackney

Coldplay, the British, Chris Martin-led band that you either love or hate, has been popular since their first album, Parachutes hit the ground running with hits like “Yellow” and “Don’t Panic”.

On the evidence of this sequel, Martin has put the split – or “conscious uncoupling” as the estranged pair called it – behind him.

“A Head Full of Dreams” is the follow up to their 2014 spiritually driven “Ghost Stories” which sold over 3.7 million copies that year. With one eye on the USA market, there are even two snippets of sampled speech from Barack Obama.

Coldplay will keep its new album off Spotify, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The band’s seventh album takes everything they have learned since their simple “Yellow” days and applies it to a joyful escape of sorts, usually soaking in current trends in dance music and hip-hop just enough for them to color their trademark sound without changing it too much.

The performance, aired live on Annie Mac’s show, began with title track A Head Full of Dreams, the singalong opener of their latest release.

Tellingly, Coldplay did not tour at the time of Ghost Stories, but have announced a string of stadium shows on the back of this record.

Those looking for lyrical heft will be disappointed.

The gig ended with a solo rendition of I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas from Martin on the piano. Another low point is feel-good break-up ballad, Everglow (featuring Paltrow on backing vocals), which wrings out all manner of emotion without nailing any meaning.

Although Coldplay has yet to release an official statement regarding the circulating news that their album won’t be readily available on the giant free streaming service Spotify, rumors, however are claiming that the decision was based on their dislike of Spotify’s free tier.