CD Reviews

 

Coldplay

Parachutes (Parlophone / EMI)

With the wealth of guitar based bands around, it's often hard to pick the winners from the distinctly average. Coldplay though are simply beautiful, and even more impressive as they have only been around for two years, and are arely out of college.

The four guys are from the London area, and after two low-key EP releases, have come up with this, their debut album. Maybe reminiscent of Gene (on a good day) or Suede (when they are not trying too hard), these guys seem to have found a fresh vein within the genre that has not been tapped before. There are some brasher tracks, including the first single Shiver, but it's the quieter ones that really shine. Part of the strength of Parachutes is that vulnerability. The vocals of Chris Martin are tender and almost bashful.

Layered over the haunting keyboards and sympathetic guitars, the result is astounding, but in a totally unassuming way. The first track Don't Panic gets you hooked into the whole album within the first minute. Then just when you imagine the album can't get much better, it does. Progressively better as the tracks glide by, and also with each satisfying listen of the CD.

The particularly fine Lost Souls debut by Doves earlier this year has set a benchmark for some of the newer alternative bands. Parachutes is not dissimilar, and equally fine. Both show off perfectly that there are ways to achieve new heights of guitar music that have not been exploited before.