In both a shocking, yet unsurprising twist of events, Coldplay released a new single that sounds like it could come straight from the 80s titled Higher Power.

For the past two years, 80s revival has been going strong. Dua Lipa, the Weeknd, and countless rising artists inspired by the nostalgic sound have been propelling the sound forward, so it’s not surprising to hear a band like Coldplay hopping on the bandwagon. I was a bit skeptical, especially with their latest offering, Everyday Life, one of the greatest albums in their discography, was so different from modern pop music, or anything else that they’ve done before. They had been notorious for following trends before, to both critical acclaim and criticism, so following trends once again was definitely a risky move. But oh boy, did they nail it.

Everything about this song feels so fun. I wouldn’t be surprised that every part of this was produced using gear from the 80s, down from the instruments to the compressors. There’s plenty of that 80s cheese that just gives so much life to the track, the cadence is exactly like the type of rhythms and melodies that was popular in that time period. Honestly, this could’ve been a bonus track from an album like So by Peter Gabriel and I would’ve believed it. I can even hear some late-Pink Floyd influences, especially with Chris’ voice being a little similar to Gilmour’s, backed by a female-prominent choir that makes his voice, and theirs, all the more charming. The chorus was immediately stuck in my head upon my first listen, the harmonies playing as loud as the melodies. The crystal-clear production, limited by that 80s vintage, really makes this an authentic experience, a perfect capture of that time.

Higher Power might not be new, nor in tune with the latest Coldplay has offered before, and one might even go as far as to say that this song is a gimmick. All of which is true, but that doesn’t change the fact that this is a great song. It’s a dance pop song that I never thought I’d hear from Coldplay, and it really gets better with every listen. You’ll find little secrets hidden amongst the instrumentation and the production each and every time, and all the while you get to enjoy the groovy bass, the punching drums, the floaty synths and the catchy vocal melodies. So honestly, what’s to complain?

Author: Nicholas Gaudet

Music producer and writer from Dieppe, Canada.