Coldplay progress report

MARTIN FLICKS AN ASH: Coldplay is deep into the sessions for its fifth album, which should be delivered to a delighted EMI well in time for a 2011 release. "We've narrowed it down to 15 tracks,” Chris Martin recently revealed. “I'm trying to make sure there are three songs that start with the same letter. On the last album, it was 'L'. It might be 'U' this time. One of them is 'Up With the Birds'. It might be a duet, but we don't know who with yet.” Now, U.K. tabloid The Sun reports that Martin’s duet partner may well turn out to be Ash frontman Tim Wheeler. "Chris has always had a soft spot for Ash,” said a source. “They were quite close in the early days and have shared a number of bills over the years. He admires Tim as a songwriter, especially his brilliant way with melodies, so he didn't think twice about asking him to get involved." Other working track titles include “Hurts Like Heaven” and possible closer “Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall.” (2/17a)