Tennis
Ritual in Repeat
COMMUNION RECORDS
7/10
Alaina Moore and Patrick Riley have come quite a way since living on a sailboat, but Tennis’s third album Ritual in Repeat is as buoyant and enjoyable as ever. The offering sees the couple put some meat on their bones, taking a sound that was nice, but thin, and elevating it into something you can really sink your teeth into. To fatten up a bit, the duo called upon Patrick Carney (the Black Keys), Jim Eno (Spoon), and Richard Swift (the Shins)—three uniquely distinct producers who undoubtedly provided the dynamic edge for the record. This is the most lyrically literate Tennis has been to date, which sometimes distracts from Riley’s sharp and poignant instrumentation. It’s when Moore simplifies her sweet crooning that the album really sparkles. Ritual in Repeat is an extension of Tennis’s still-developing aural palette, but listeners won’t mind sitting in on the progress meetings.
