U.K. buzz band Athlete can now boast of being the only band to be heard through all of time and space. The band’s classic song “Changes” will be used as the first ever rock song on the longest-running science fiction television show in the world, Doctor Who.
The song plays at a key point in the upcoming episode “Vincent And The Doctor” which can be seen for the first time in the U.S. on BBC America this Saturday night June 26th at 9pm. The series, which now stars Matt Smith as the 11th incarnation of the Doctor, has drawn raves on both sides of the Atlantic. Writer Richard Curtis (Nothing Hill, Love Actually, Four Weddings and a Funeral) penned the episode and personally requested the song’s use.
“We are delighted that our song Chances was chosen by the legendary Richard Curtis to be used in Doctor Who,” commented lead singer Joel Pott. “The show is such a long standing and iconic BBC drama and to be the first band to ever have a song on the soundtrack really is an honour.”
Athlete are currently in the middle of a spring / summer U.S. tour in support of their latest album, Black Swan. The band’s new album is a musical summary of everything Athlete has been through, the good, the bad and the ugly. But although its songs burn with literate emotion, this certainly isn’t a downbeat record. In fact, the album begins with the hurtling FM rush of the glorious track, “Superhuman Touch,” which catapults the album to life with the opening line, “I’m on fire and nothing’s gonna hold me back.”
Produced by the esteemed Tom Rothrock (Foo Fighters, Elliott Smith, Elbow, Beck), Black Swan positively glows with snagging melodies, rich musicality and the band’s heartfelt tales. These songs together make Black Swan the strongest album Athlete has ever recorded. The reaction to Black Swan has been nothing short of overwhelming both here and in the UK with Alternative Press stating, ““If proper venues for a band called Athlete are Stadiums, then this southeast London quartet have finally made an album worthy of their name… super-earnest reflections with melodies and arrangements direct and sturdy enough to bear the emotional weight.” NME proclaiming, “Awash with gorgeous melodies, the best thing they’ve ever done.” And Q Magazine raving: “Strong results… from the rueful to the thunderous. A band reborn.”
Athlete first rose to prominence seven years ago with the spirited, electro-tinged, indie-pop of their Mercury-nominated debut, Vehicles And Animals, Athlete have established themselves among the UK’s finest songsmiths. The southeast Londoners have sold more than a million copies of their three hit albums (the other two being 2005’s Tourist and 2007’s Beyond The Neighbourhood); packed out venues across the world; picked up an Ivor Novello award; and topped both the UK’s album and airplay charts.
Athlete’s North American tour dates are listed below.
ATHLETE TOUR DATES:
JUNE 24 Dallas TX Cambridge Room @ HOB
JUNE 25 Austin TX Stubbs Bar-B-Q
JUNE 26 Houston TX Walters On Washington
JUNE 28 Birmingham AL WorkPlay Theater
JUNE 29 Atlanta GA Vinyl
JUNE 30 Chapel Hill NC Local 506
JULY 1 Pittsburgh PA Club Cafe
JUNE 24 Dallas TX Cambridge Room @ HOB
JUNE 25 Austin TX Stubbs Bar-B-Q
JUNE 26 Houston TX Walters On Washington
JUNE 28 Birmingham AL WorkPlay Theater
JUNE 29 Atlanta GA Vinyl
JUNE 30 Chapel Hill NC Local 506
JULY 1 Pittsburgh PA Club Cafe
For More Information Contact:
Keith Hagan – khagan@skhmusic.com
Steve Karas – skaras@skhmusic.com
Julie Lichtenstein – juliel@skhmusic.com
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