Since basically the release of 2008’s Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends, Coldplay has been discussing its followup. 2009 was the original target, but thanks to a global tour, some plagiarism charges, and a new side-project called Apparatjik, those plans were delayed a bit.

However, as The Sun is now reporting, Coldplay has now officially begun work on its yet-to-be-titled fifth studio album. The U.K. outfit is reportedly held up in a dilapidated north London church with Viva La Vida producer Brian Eno, where they’re “masterminding a brave new direction.”

Frontman Chris Martin is concerned the band are being seen as a huge stadium act and totally inaccessible for their loyal fans.

So he has devised a plan with rock deity Eno and bandmates Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman, and Will Champion to record a stripped-down, more acoustic collection in the eerie church.

The band is said to be aiming for a 2010 release with a “tour of smaller venues” to follow.