Review: Tennis – “Small Sound”

 

 

Tennis
Small Sound EP

Communion Records – November 5th 2013
By Joshua Khan (@blaremag)
Find it at: iTunes | Insound | Official Store

 

8.5



 

 


With Cape Dory and Young & Old being nostalgia-soaked full-lengths that sail between “groovy” and “gorgeous”, it’s really no surprise that Tennis’ five-track segway re-colours their pop sensibility. In fact, their Small Sound EP isn’t charming – it’s strikingly devastating. It pushes odes to Laura Nyro, peels off intricate lyrics, and goes for the jugular with adventurous arrangements that side with breezy bubblegum works (“Dimming Light”) and jazz out with snappy percussion (“100 Lovers”). More so than ever, these new recordings sound as if Alaina Moore and Patrick Riley backdropped their sequestered excursions with Carole King, Margo Guryan, and Broadcast, and it’s helped underline their pioneering skill. The hugging melody to “Mean Streets” and Riley’s svelte, mid-song guitar lick on “Timothy” let you know it’s real – Tennis are carefully putting the final brush marks on a sound that will carve your heart and soul.

Listen: “Timothy”, “Cured Of Youth”, “Dimming Light” || Watch: “Mean Streets”

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