After the bloated excesses of previous album XY, Coldplay again find the beauty of brevity in Viva La Vida - over 10 tracks and 45 minutes, they revisit the knack for melody that made them huge in the first place.

The album's title track is another classic Coldplay moment, with Chris Martin's vague, feelgood pronouncements soaring over sweeping strings. And on songs like Lost! and 42, the band use producer Brian Eno to bring some welcome experimentation to their music.

Coldplay
Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends
(EMI)

by NICK BOND