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When Coldplay first debuted the music video for “Midnight” last week, fans were left both impressed and puzzled with the band’s new sound. Drawing countless comparisons to Bon Iver, many of us didn’t know what to make of it, and began wondering about the possibilities of a new album, as well as what sonic direction we could expect from the group going forward. Well, today we can at least get some of those questions answered, as the UK natives have announced plans to release their sixth studio album, Ghost Stories, on May 19th. Accompanying that piece of news is the album’s first single, “Magic.” Harnessing plenty of charm and positive vibes delivered through Chris Martin‘s soft, angelic falsetto, “Magic” sounds a little more like the Coldplay we’re familiar with.

Pre-orders for Ghost Stories are already available on iTunes, and those who purchase the album will be able to get a copy of “Magic” today.

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For awhile there, it almost seemed as if Coldplay had lost themselves (no pun intended). While Viva La Vida was still an excellent album, and Mylo Xyloto had its moments, their recent material has lacked the same substance to it that netted the band success in the early 2000’s. “Atlas” seems to signal a turnaround for the group, as they finally return to their roots on this brilliant piano ballad. Soaring records like “Paradise” and “Life In Technicolor II” test the limits to which Chris Martin can stretch his vocals, but it’s melodies like this that truly allow us to explore the subtleties of his voice. Lyrics have also always been a strong suit of Martin’s, so it’s no surprise that he excels again here with an uplifting chorus that has him belting out “Carry your world, I’ll carry your world.”

“Atlas” marks a move in the right direction for the London quartet, which makes us hope that a new album is in the works. In the meantime though, you can find this one on the soundtrack for the upcoming film, Hunger Games: Catching Fire, which will be in theaters on November 22nd.