Lyrically, the album is inspired by 'old school American graffiti' and 'the White Rose Movement.' Martin also said that the album was influenced by HBO TV series The Wire. Coldplay have stated on several occasions that they want their next studio album to be more acoustic and more intimate than its predecessor, 2008's Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends. The band has been recording in a North London church, in their new recording studio The Beehive, and in the studio used for the recordings of Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends The Bakery. The band has been recording with producer Brian Eno who was one of several producers involved with Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends.- Wikipedia