Watch Coldplay find ‘Magic’ in new video

Coldplay’s new single is called “Magic,” but its video is more inclined to the dark arts.

In the just-released clip, singer Chris Martin plays a couple of roles -- a scheming husband to magician Ziyi Zhang (of “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” fame) and her lovestruck assistant. While the song is a future-leaning bit of drum machine minimalism, the video has a flapper-noir feel straight from the silent era, with lots of knife-throwing and wounded glances.

The black-and-white clip was shot by acclaimed music video director Jonas Akerlund, who has done videos for U2, Britney Spears and Lady Gaga.

It’s the first single off the band’s forthcoming album, “Ghost Stories,” which is out May 19 on Parlophone/Atlantic. It’s a happier turn in the news for Martin, who recently announced his separation from wife Gwyneth Paltrow. Watch the full video below.

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