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Tourist is the second
release from the relatively new band, Athlete.
Previously, this UK four-piece met some success
with Vehicles and Animals, and with this album they
kept the pop rolling, but with added layers and
personality.
Listening to “If I Found Out” and
“Chances” sparks the imagination of
a Beck and Coldplay collaboration on Sea Changes.
All of the members of the band can sing, so I
have absolutely no idea who sings on any given
track. I’m going to take a wild guess and
say that Joel Pott (guitar, vocals) does the vocals
on most of the tracks (if not, I apologize profusely).
I think you can all sympathize with trying to
think of a name, and finding it just out of reach.
I’m showing a lack of knowledge and professionalism
by admitting this, but Joel’s voice has
a very similar sound and even cadence to another
artist whose name is dancing on the edge of my
periphery.
Athlete’s tone is relatively low-key, while
their lyrics are deeply personal. “Wires”
releases the fear of losing someone close to you,
with their opening line, “You got wires
going in/ You got wires coming out of your skin/
You got tears making tracks/ I’ve got tears
that are scared of the facts.”
Many of the songs like “Twenty Four Hours”
are symphonic, which fits as if the London Metropolitan
Orchestra had provided string arrangements. “Modern
Mafia” picks up the pace and relies more
on guitars and synthesizer sounds, but my favorite
track, “Yesterday Threw Everything At Me,”
showcases all of the band’s talents -- a
pervasive bass line from Carey Willets, a variety
of keyboard sounds by Tim Wanstall, and Steven
Roberts’ giving a powerful drum beat –
are all rounded out by solid guitar hooks and
a chorus that will bury it’s way in your
psyche. I am an unabashed fan of Brit pop, and
Athlete definitely fits the bill.
www.astralwerks.com
-Ian Nelson, June 17, 2005
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