NOTHING difficult about this second album, then. Coldplay's follow-up to Parachutes is the sound of a band growing up in public, and emerging far more confident and assured than on their debut, without sacrificing its vulnerable charm.

The wet-behind-the-ears indie band factor that was all too apparent on their breakthrough hit, Yellow, has certainly been laid to rest, as opening track Politik demonstrates.

It manages the remarkable feat of bringing Pink Floyd, U2 and Radiohead all to mind, without being at all overblown or pompous.

The secret is Chris Martin's intimate voice, the sound of a thoughtful, troubled and almost painfully honest soul, combined with the band's understated and beautifully-crafted playing, a rare thing in a genre rife with overblown fake angst. The single, In My Place, already sounds like a classic, while Clocks is another stand-out, with its hypnotic piano lines. The more up-tempo drive of Warning Sign and Daylight demonstrates that their only peers in the world of epic-yet-subdued late-night confessional pop are Manchester's Doves.

A Rush Of Blood is more consistent and has greater depth than Parachutes.

It does lack anything as instant as Yellow or Trouble - and you can't help wishing they would lose some of their restraint and rock out occasionally - but this is a slow-burning beauty of a record which will reward repeat listening.

It should also gain a lot from being played live - in the big arenas which Coldplay are surely now headed towards.

Updated: 09:49 Thursday, August 29, 2002