Athlete make a connection

Judging by the number of thirtysomething couples at the first night, babysitters will be doing equally good business this week. It seems that on a night off, youngish parents like to take in guitar ballads with vaguely dolorous lyrics from Athlete's number one album, Tourist.

Frustratingly, it wasn't always like this: their debut album, Vehicles & Animals, was notable for its quirky pop, and during You Got the Style the singalong and spotlights gave a warm feeling, even if temporary.

Still, it was a solid outing, although frontman Joel Pott's bullish presence could also turn strangely gauche. Certainly when his announcement of "something special" turned out to be a new range of posters on sale, he looked utterly defeated by the collective shrug of indifference.

The music made the right connection, though, with Athlete clearly aiming for the lucrative Coldplay audience rather than critics. Indeed, when Pott tried to get everyone clapping, he added sardonically: "Come on, even you journalists in the middle."

But even a journalist, who was on the middle balcony, has to concede that Hurricane sounded like a killer comeback single.

Athlete: The Hits - Stripped Back Tour
KOKO
Camden High Street, NW1 7JE