I’ve always had a soft spot for the underdog – I am Welsh mind and watching our great rugby team does do this to you. This is probably why I like Athlete so much – even preferring them to Coldplay, Snow patrol et al.

‘Vehicles and Animals’ their first album was probably my favorite album of 2003 with its great mixture of 80’s pop, classic indie, feel good anthems, even a wee bit of hip-hop that showed the band as true songwriters and contenders for the next big stadium rock superstars. So what went wrong? Their next two albums ‘Tourist’ and ‘Beyond the Neighborhood’ were almost as good delivering more of the same high quality, well produced songs that have stood the test of time and demonstrate real song writing talent with no airs and graces – just great music.

They were well received by fans, if not the music critics, have sold more than a million copies of their three albums packed out venues across the land; picked up an Ivor Novello award; and topped both the UK’s album and airplay charts, but have failed to raise themselves to the heights of superstardom – why – bad management – bad press – too many bands all sounding the same? Who knows….. maybe the band didn’t want it, preferring to take a different route that will (I hope) out live the competition.

So, they have released their fourth album ‘Black Swan’ working with esteemed American producer Tom Rothrock (Foo Fighters, Elliot Smith, Elbow, Beck), and it sounds exactly as I thought it would sound – great songs, well sung, well played (they’re great live), well produced etc. etc. so do I like? Yes, I do but why I like it I just don’t really know – it’s not like they’re doing anything that will set the music world alight, simply following a tried and tested formula that works for them….and works for me. I like it because it’s simple straight forward honest music that does what it says it will do on the tin.

It did take a while though, first 3 or 4 plays I was not really impressed then you start to get ‘under-the-skin‘of the songs and you hear ‘Superhuman Touch’ start and Joel sings: “I’m on fire, and nothing’s gonna hold me back” – now this album ain’t always on fire but there’s enough bright sparks glowing here to make this a worthwhile purchase. Gems such as ‘Love Come Rescue’, the title track ‘Black Swan’ and ‘Rubik’s Cube’ make this a good album – in my opinion their best after ‘Vehicles and Animals’ – best artwork I’ve seen in a while too.

What is great to hear is some honest music again, I’ve been listening to a lot of Prog Rock lately by bands such as Porcupine Tree and Siena Root, two good honest bands who are certainly not in the music business to make a quick buck – I see Athlete like this – a good honest band, similar in many ways to Squeeze – now there was a band who should have been as big as the Beatles – anyway I’m digressing now – I like the album, it’s good – if you like good music you’ll like this.