Soaring notes of hope

Emotive and provoking, Coldplay's fourth studio album Viva La Vida has the ability to invoke a happiness so soaring that catharsis reeks of a false promise made in a far away land. With each note in every song reverberating with poignant stories of a past not forgotten, yet of a future imbued with hope, intense is a state that Viva La Vida transcends, leaving us utterly and thoroughly speechless.

The album starts with Life in Technicolour: an invitation, almost, to come and play. With chime like chords, the tune dances, twirls and smiles asking of us only to follow. Cemeteries of London follows, with its medieval English ballad-like quality; an eerily beautiful and anticipation-filled ride.

Next, Lost opens with a proverbial bang that strikes quite the chord with its profoundness, "Just because I'm losing, doesn't mean I'm lost, doesn't mean I'll stop," and captivates by managing to summarise the essence of struggle in one line: as the hope that lies within it.

"Every gun you ever held, went off, oh I'm just waiting for the firing to stop."

A few weak tracks

Later in the album Lovers in Japan continues the same theme with a sound that elevates in its continual expansion through the song. Although good, both Lovers in Japan and Yes lack the striking quality possessed by the rest of the album. With title track Viva la Vida and Violet Hill already monumentally successful singles, little discussion is needed besides uncontested concurrence of their wonder.

Rounding off with folksy yet funky Strawberry Swing, and an almost Jack Johnson-esque second title track, Death and All His Friends, the album ends with an air of sweet, untouched innocence, with more strings and softer melodies seeming to signify purged demons and fresh starts. "I don't wanna cycle or recycle revenge; I don't wanna follow death and all his friends."

Despite a couple of weak tracks in the middle Viva La Vida is an album not to be missed. It compels an exploration of the intensity of emotion, transforming even sadness with its beauty.

Tragic becomes beautiful, anger becomes patience and hope becomes life. Officially the most downloaded album ever, this is one to be relished, bit by bit, in its entirety.

Coldplay facts

- All four members – Chris Martin, Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman and Will Champion – of the alternative rock band studied at University College London

- The band's name was changed quite a few times. Their first name was Pectoralz and then Starfish. Later on they went by the name Big Fat Noises and Trombelese, before they decided to use the name Coldplay.

- Coldplay does not allow their music to be used to market products; their music is only allowed to be used in film, television, and promotional spots.

- Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends was inspired by a painting that Chris Martin once saw, by Frida Kahlo. He liked the "boldness" of it. The album cover features the painting that inspired him.