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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Why Snow Patrol? Why not Athlete? It’s one for pre-eminent pop historians of the future to chew over, for while Gary Lightbody and his fey troupe have malformed somewhat improbably into arena-filling behemoths, Athlete and their similarly pitched indie melancholy keep getting unfairly pushed to the back of the queue. And each time they do, as proven all over again by Black Swan, they refine their output yet further. This, their fourth album, is about as lean as they can get without dropping the instruments and going a capella. One notable difference between them and that other lot is that Athlete are really a lot less needy; there’s heartbreak and solace sought on most tracks (take "Love Come Rescue", "The Awkward Goodbye" and "Don’t Hold Your Breath" for typical mid-pace meanders through that territory), but they never really overdo the melodrama, they just put their heads down and get on with it. What this results in is honest, efficient reflections, down to earth turns of phrase that don’t disappoint because they’re articulated so appropriately, with such a stately sense of understatement, rolled forwards on swelling banks of melody. It can be all to easy to forget that Athlete have a pulse sometimes as the comfort blanket side of their character beds down so easily, but with the bouncy 80s pop of "Superhuman Touch" harking back to their debut and "The Unknown" evoking James at their most soaring, Black Swan really sinks its talons in. --James Berry
Review
Two years after Beyond the Neighbourhood, Deptford quartet Athlete return with some more emotion-laden, life-affirming, FM-friendly stadium rock. This time round it's far less low-key than its predecessor, and far more likely to appeal to their most avid fans. If one word were to sum up the sound, it's 'huge'.
While nobody's going to hand Athlete an award for innovation, their potent mixture of chiming, echo-driven guitars, rumbling bass and orchestral synth-assisted grandeur is nothing if not bracing. There's nothing as heartbreakingly affecting as Wires here, said song from 2005’s Tourist album evidence enough that Joel Pott's voice suits quieter moments rather than the more grandiose material now on offer. It's on the closing ace-up-the-sleeve Rubik's Cube, and the acoustic swing of Love Come Rescue, that he convinces the listener. However, when the sound grows large – as on opening single Superhuman Touch – the focus that lyrically sensitive material such as this requires is lost.
Tom Rothrock's production skills replace the band's own efforts on Beyond..., and along with their move to the Fiction label this is obviously a ploy to break past the invisible barrier that's so far impeded them joining the really big league. It's interesting to note that Rothrock's CV, featuring as it does James Blunt's last album, also includes Elbow, a band that few seem unwilling to put in the same league of uplifting stuff. But what really marks a difference between, say, the Bury band’s One Day Like This and Athlete’s rather lovely Black Swan Song? The divisions seem meaningless.
It would be crass to bang on about how, well... Coldplay-like Athlete are. Perhaps the trouble is that no-one's actually come up with a genre name for this kind of music. It oozes with emotion, with earnestness and with an uncanny knack for the grand, empty gesture. On one level it's soundtrack music, designed by committee for accompanying the significant 'moment' on some TV series. On the other it's a spark of hope in a world that sneers at such a contemptible lack of cynicism. The choice, dear reader, is yours.
It's far from even vaguely original, but it's undeniably successful. Now, what do we call it? --Chris Jones
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This is Athlete's best album since Vehicles & Animals, following the awful second album Tourist and the marked improvement of the sadly overlooked Beyond The Neighbourhood. To begin with Superhuman Touch gets things of to a great start - think Half Light meets El Salvador and you've got the idea. Whilst Superhuman Touch is the best track on the album, The Getaway, Black Swan Song, Light The Way, Magical Mistakes and the closing Badly Drawn Boy-esque Rubik's Cube are also notable. The remainder of the album is pleasant enough, if largely fairly forgettable, there's not a bad track to be had really. The extra tracks on the deluxe version are nothing to write home about, a treat for diehard fans only really - it's a shame that the excellent Summer Sun wasn't included amongst these.
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Wow!! I think this album was well worth the wait. So many strong songs on here it's hard to pick out which are my favourites. At this point in time I would have to go with Rubik's Cube, Black Swan Song and Superhuman Touch but Magical Mistakes is also brilliant.
I think Athlete are one of the most underrated bands of the past few years. Each album seems to get stronger and stronger.
They may not be flavour of the month but this album is well worth investing in and will stay on your CD player / iPod for years to come.
I think Athlete are one of the most underrated bands of the past few years. Each album seems to get stronger and stronger.
They may not be flavour of the month but this album is well worth investing in and will stay on your CD player / iPod for years to come.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This album is simple and beautiful. From upbeat and 80s pop music (Superhuman Touch) to slow and heartbreaking melodies (Love Come Rescue), it has something to suit all moods, and although it doesn't quite match the brilliance of Tourist, it's close. It's more mature than Vehicles and Animals, it's more creative than Beyond The Neighbourhood, and on occasions it's more heartfelt than Tourist with Black Swan Song a touching tribute to Joel Pott's grandfather in WW2.
This is anything but bland, one of the best albums of the year and worth every penny. Athlete are by far the most under-appreciated band in the UK. If you buy thi album, you won't regret it.
This is anything but bland, one of the best albums of the year and worth every penny. Athlete are by far the most under-appreciated band in the UK. If you buy thi album, you won't regret it.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Athlete
I love this album. Played it over and over and it just gets better. Definately one of my favourite Athlete albums. This and their album Tourist are two of my best choices. Read more
Published 8 months ago by fisher
Like it
The same style as previous albums, a good all-rounder that's easy to listen to, and equally easy to have on in the background.... Like it!
Published 13 months ago by Rick W. Towers
love it
This album is brilliant. I'm not a reviewer so I can't tell you what the best bits are etc, but I like the album, and the band.
Published 21 months ago by nickpinny
Black Swan
Excellent album!!! I have listened to it more times than I can remember and still not bored of it! Some of the tracks are quite 'emotional/deep' but show real feeling. Read more
Published on 5 April 2010 by Ms. K. James
Reassuringly Familiar
As another review stated, the previous Athlete album, Beyond The Neighbourhood, divided opinion. The mood was more ambient, a few shades darker, with fewer "stand out" tracks. Read more
Published on 12 Mar 2010 by A. Marczak
Athlete boys do it again
Another cracker from Joel and the gang. More mellow and calm than their other albums but great songs that become growers.
Published on 18 Feb 2010 by Jon Nobbles
A REAL WINNER
Having heard the fantastic title track - Black Swan Song, on the radio, I decided to check Athlete out. The reviews on this album were good so I took the plunge. Read more
Published on 23 Jan 2010 by Ms. Shirley J. Whitby
best yet
got this album for Christmas and have not stopped playing it.
It is one of Athletes best yet.
It will not disappoint.
It is one of Athletes best yet.
It will not disappoint.
Published on 20 Jan 2010 by Patricia Baldwin
It couldn't get better
This is an almost perfect CD, it's only fault is that there's only ten brilliant songs and they really do leave you wanting more. Read more
Published on 30 Dec 2009 by U. Oetiker
GREW ON ME
This didn't immediately grab me in the ame way as the three previous albums. At first I felt it seemed like pleasant background music. Read more
Published on 18 Dec 2009 by alisonontour
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