Coldplay A L I E N S: An Album a Day

An Album a Day is posted 5 days a week, Monday-Friday

    After their latest hit came via collaboration with the reigning kings of pop The Chainsmokers, Coldplay have ventured further back towards their rock roots. Their new single Aliens (stylized
A L I E N S) is a mature and more modern take on Coldplay’s earliest melancholy alternative rock sound. The sound of this track is absolutely beautiful, full of sweeping soundscapes of synths and ambient guitars that are anchored by piano, bass and drums.

    The songs itself tells the story of aliens escaping a monstrous force trying to destroy them on their own planet and desperately finding a new place to live. Chris Martin takes a page straight out of Gene Roddenberry's book by using Sci-Fi motifs to talk about a somewhat touchy issue that people would have a strong reaction to, in this case refugees. Despite various article I’ve read about this song trying to make it specifically about Syrian refugees (imbuing this song with the article writer's political leaning) this track’s purpose is to promote and raise money for the Migrant Offshore Aid Station Foundation.

The MOAS Foundation is a charity organization that conducts search and rescue missions along what they call the deadliest migration routes in the world. With that said, I’m sure Coldplay intended this song as a more general statement on refugees and migrants in need as that fits the mold of their humanistic political stances that generally call for love and understanding of each other. Regardless of political stances on refugees and migrants, MOAS is a good cause and this song is fantastic even at face value.

The song itself features swirling synths and piano that fill out most of the mix, along with Martin’s reverb drenched vocals echoing across the soundscape. A sparse drumbeat, bassline and various guitar licks go the forefront in this spacey (no pun intended) alt rock track. I have always been a huge fan of Chris Martin's natural baritone voice so I couldn't be happier to see him using more of his low register in their newer music.

This song reminds me of a few other artists, containing elements that invoke Muse and even Gorillaz at times. It also strikes me that the sound of this song is the perfect blending of Coldplay's rockier sound with their poppier sound, striking a balance that Maroon 5 has been desperately searching for this entire decade.

Rather you want to delve deep into the metaphorical meaning of the lyrics or just take it as a trippy song about aliens, this music is just gorgeous. Hopefully this sound will be found throughout Coldplay's future releases. Their new EP Kaleidoscope drops next month.
All the money made from this song will go to the MOAS Foundation, if you'd like to find out more about them click here.
Single on Google Play
Single on ITunes