TENNIS - Swimmer LP (Ivory Vinyl)

Label: Mutually Detrimental

By the time they released Swimmer in 2020, Tennis were finishing up a decade-long run as first-rate practitioners of sophisticated pop. Pairing Alaina Moore's pristine and powerful vocals with Patrick Riley's magical arrangements, the sound of the group is an instantly recognizable mash-up of '50s pop, 70's soft rock, and 2010s off-kilter bedroom pop.

They keep things mostly intact here while tweaking things just enough to make it one of their more rewarding outings. As is often the case for the band, the songs were crafted on a months-long boat trip where the pair were cut off from the larger world.

The tracks feels like they put more effort than usual into creating a diverse, well-rounded listening experience that's steeped in their traditional sound while being a bit of a step forward. As a band enters their second decade, it's good to shake things up a little so people won't take them for granted. Thanks to the life the duo breathed into the album with their dedication and passion, Swimmer should keep fans on their toes for sure.