Coldplay has released details of their sixth studio album Ghost Stories, their first since 2011's Mylo Xyloto. Ghost Stories is a nine track record and will be released on May 19, 2014 via Parlophone/Atlantic Records. The album is the first full-length release by the band in the United States under Atlantic Records, after Coldplay was transferred from Capital Records last year. The British band also released the album's first official single "Magic." "Magic" can be streamed on Youtube and can also be purchased on iTunes and Amazon.com. In the UK, the single has already shot up to No. 2 on iTunes.
Last week, on February 25, Coldplay released a new track from Ghost Stories called "Midnight" as a music video, which has already drawn extensive comparison to Bon Iver's music and is a deviation from their usual sound. "Magic" is more along the lines of Coldplay's original gentle rock sound, with Chris Martin's soothingly cooing over a simple guitar melody, "Call it magic Call it true Call it magic When I'm with you." The single is reminiscent of some of the songs off of their beloved debut Parachutes, especially "Yellow" and "Trouble." After evolving more towards a colorful stadium rock sound for Mylo Xyloto, the band is returning to its more contemplative acoustic roots for Ghost Stories. In an interview with Jo Whiley of BBC Radio 1, Coldplay drummer Will Champion said in response to a question about the sixth album being more stripped-back, "Yeah, that might be nice, actually. There's only so far you can go without becoming pompous and a bit overblown, so we'll tread that line very carefully. Reset. Recalibrate."
The album art for Ghost Stories was etched by Mila Fürstová, a Czech etching artist.
News of the Ghost Stories drops a little before Coldplay's headlining of the inaugural US edition of the iTunes Festival at South by Southwest on March 11, 2014 in Austin, TX. As of yet, the band released no other information regarding further appearances or a tour.
Tracklist for Ghost Stories
1. Always in My Head
2. Magic
3. Ink
4. True Love
5. Midnight
6. Another's Arms
7. Oceans
8. A Sky Full of Stars
9. O
