Beyond The Neighbourhood

Beyond The Neighbourhood is a record of true progression and real quality. Its songs are built around the same effortless hooks and snagging melodies that have been Athlete's trademark since their debut single, 'Westside', was released in March 2002. But the album glows with a newfound musical confidence, its self-produced songs showing big leaps in terms of ambition, scope and creativity. Lyrically, too, the album is a striking success, pinpointing the joys, confusions and uncertainties of living, as drummer Stephen Roberts puts it, "in this amazing world where so many mad things keep happening".