Coldplay Work ‘Magic’ on New Song, Name New Album ‘Ghost Stories’

Coldplay have officially awoken from their quasi-hibernation. The British rock group will put out their sixth album, Ghost Stories, on May 19th. To announce the release of the record, the band is streaming its second track — the easygoing and typically romantic pop track “Magic.”

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Other than the harder-hitting and anthemic soundtrack cut “Atlas,” released last fall to accompany The Hunger Games: Chasing Fire, the band have put out only one new song since the 2011 release of their fifth LP, Mylo Xyloto. That track, “Midnight,” was released with no context or hint of an album, though the track list for Ghost Stories confirms it is the nine-song LP’s centerpiece, appearing at Number Five.

The track curiously showed off Coldplay’s chillier side and atypical sounds for the group, including flitting synth lines, minimal EDM buildup and effects obscuring frontman Chris Martin’s usually rich vocals.

“Magic” is more of a return to form. Although the track leads with a bass-heavy, almost electronic-inflected groove – not unlike one of Radiohead‘s moodier tracks – Martin’s voice makes it sound like vintage Coldplay. “Call it magic,” he sings. “Call it true. Call it magic, when I’m with you.” And even though the band includes thoughtful, deeply textured production touches like warbling synths and guitar reverb that lingers a little longer than usual, Martin intones the falsetto “woos” and a catchy “Yes, I do” hook that, along with a lush acoustic guitar buildup in the middle, prove it to be Coldplay through and through.

The band has yet to announce live dates other than an opening night performance at Austin’s iTunes festival during South by Southwest on March 11th. Fans who cannot attend the Texas gig will be able to watch the performance in a free live stream on iTunes.

A “deluxe” version of Ghost Stories will be available at Target with three exclusive tracks.