Athlete
Beyond the Neighbourhood

THE REVIEW

We often find ourselves spinning our wheels looking for something that satisfies us, it's a bit like those foggy afternoons when you never know if it's worth leaving the house or resigning yourself to the unsettling presence of the domestic walls that start talking to us just when we don't feel the need for it.
Indeed, this third effort by the English band Athlete is as autumnal as it gets, and despite uncomfortable comparisons made about their past, they forge ahead on their own path, bringing a new evolution to their already interesting career.

"Beyond the Neighbourhood"  is indeed a different album compared to the previous two, which were too close to certain BritPop sounds (is there still someone who calls it "Indie"?) and reveal an interesting infatuation with electronics that hints at Synth Pop (and it was inevitable that this would happen) but is terribly elegant where the coexistence with a mostly "guitar-oriented" environment (I'm in the mood for neologisms... sorry...) is well-presented and not at all forced. On the contrary, it fills those voids that would otherwise be occupied by the domestic walls I mentioned earlier (one day I'll explain this to you too...).

Melancholy is the word of the day but after all, isn't this the so-called "English Way" that someone talked about a few years ago?

But don't get me wrong... "Beyond the Neighbourhood" is not at all a supinely sad album; on the contrary, it is vibrant. The spleen is absolutely compatible with life in this case, and songs like "Hurricane" and "In the Library" are there to prove it, rhythm and intimate exploration go hand in hand... isn't this all terribly autumnal?

What is most surprising about this very talented band remains their ability to navigate the conventional without ever getting caught in the shallows of the most cloying EasyListening, demonstrating an artistic maturity even when flirting with the radio world that is truly rare among their compatriots at the start of this century (listen to "The Outsiders" to get an idea). In my opinion, this is yet another confirmation that it is not necessary to be cerebral and unconventional at all costs to create something truly interesting, a suggestion, in short, to carefully analyze the simple paths before overcooking your brain.

Romanticism and Melody do the rest, and with the opening of "Second Hand Stores" ("Let's fall in Love again..."), a condescending smile to forgive certain naiveties arises spontaneously, understanding that they are born from the sincerity of someone who has made the romantic spirit a reason for living. And it's pleasant to discover that the surrounding environment isn't entirely foggy, and if you look closely, the light is right above us, benevolent and consoling, which comes from an intensity that Athlete manages to infuse in every single piece, and it changes little whether electronics ([EM]"In Between 2 States") or the electric piano ([EM]"Tokyo") dominates, the result is always soft and enveloping...

...and there's little wonder if you find yourself boiling water to make tea subconsciously because no action can come more naturally. For a moment, the walls fall silent, silenced by the courteous Art of Pott & Co., which doesn't need invasive sounds to get noticed, enters by knocking, and hardly leaves...

So another emotional ups and downs to accompany us, and Sunday afternoons thank us, as well as some gloomy Mornings...