Since its 2003 debut, Vehicles and Animals—which earned the group a Mercury Music Prize—Athlete has been a staple among indie tastemakers. The band, whose past South By Southwest gigs were widely touted as “must-see,” hits American shores again this year and the band’s new album, Black Swan, hits American record stores and online outlets on Tuesday, 3.2.10.

Here’s a video of “Black Swan Song” acoustic:

Athlete plays its official SXSW showcase on Thursday, 3.18.10, at the Billboard.com Bungalow (708 E 6th) at 10pm.

Visit Athlete online here.