Review of Vehicals and Animals Album by Athlete

Athlete - Vehicles and Animals
Athlete - Vehicles and Animals (Parlophone) Album review

Athlete

Vehicles and Animals

(Parlophone) Album review

This is a very British album which is what gives it its quirkiness and, almost, quaintness. It makes it virtually indefinable in terms of genres as it’s so varied – it’s not quite indie, rock or, even, pop. Just when you think you’ve got a definition it changes so at least you can’t get bored but, whilst it changes styles several times, it remains essentially a light album. This is not a bad thing.

Music - Athlete - Vehicles and Animals (Parlophone) Album review

There are some songs on here that you’ll swear you’ve heard before even if you haven’t like You Got the Style and Westside. These are the sort of songs you would take to the beach on holiday if they were games, in other words, summery and breezy. They are also songs you would sing along to without much care or without realising it because they are infectious. It’s not just Joel Pott’s voice, which is very South London, but the words and phrases he uses as well.

There are other uplifting songs which are also lovely in their simplicity andwhich grab your attention by being so unassuming. You can almost relate to somesongs which are tales of family life and growing up. The title track, Vehiclesand Animals, uses the idea of football supporters chanting on the terraces rightat the end when the band all sing together and that gives an already affectingtrack even more of a British touch. The format is repeated on Dungeness amongstother songs, a whimsical song of going on holiday with your mates. Even here,though, it’s not the same because Dungeness has a guitar solo.

There are moments of the Streets in the album, not least on Out of Nowhere withits garage beats and Mike Skinneresque vocals. It also bizarrely ends up withPott shouting ‘Hurrah, hurrah, hurrah!’ at the end and it takes youby surprise. The song is more of a grower than an instant hit as it is quitestrange but this is no bad thing. There is also a moment of sheer cheese on LeCasio with the most 80’s PC game style keyboards heard in a long time followedup with a bit of trumpet to add to the class not to mention eccentricity.

This is a wonderful album that lifts your spirits if you’re down or makesyou smile and laugh if you’re happy. Even if it’s raining you canlie down with it on your stereo, close your eyes and imagine there are blue skiesand the weather is hot. Buy the album, see them live later this year! You won’tregret it.

4.5/5

Natasha Perry

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