TENNIS
Swimmer
(Mutually Detrimental)
As Tennis, husband-and-wife duo Alaina Moore and Patrick Riley make dreamy indie-pop with a heavy nod towards nostalgia. Their music is warm and breezy, strongly influenced by 1970s AM Gold songwriters like Carole King and the Carpenters, yet bolstered by modern electronic-leaning production, harmonic keyboard and guitar riffs, and their own unique creative flair. On their fifth studio album, that creativity manifests in unexpected ways, like a surprise tempo change in the soulful “Need Your Love” or a swirling synth-driven outro in “Matrimony II.” You’d never know from Moore’s soft, soothing vocals or the upbeat melodies that the album was inspired by overcoming a dark time in their lives, but Swimmer shows how they channeled every challenge into reflective art. (4/5)
By Cindy Yogmas
Swimmer was released February 14, 2020. This article originally appeared in the Spring 2020 print edition of BUST Magazine. Subscribe today!
More from BUST
“Memory” By Vivian Girls Is The Return Fans Deserve
Mal Blum Is Witty, Self-Aware, And Refreshingly Nostalgic On “Pity Boy”
Sofia Bolt’s Debut “Waves” Is Moody But Cool Enough For Summer