Tennis released Young and Old on the 14th February 2012, following up their January 2011 debut album, Cape Dory. The new record is a combination of doo wop and surf pop that sounds fresh and new, despite its older generation roots.
It all Feels the Same starts the album middle of the tracks, but it’s followed by Origins, which is a great mix of sax and piano with a surf guitar solo and vocals that feel like they could steal your soul. My Better Self is a slower organ fuelled pop fix and Traveling continues the girl-group doo wop vibes of Young and Old.
With nothing new being introduced into the mix with Petition, you start to feel like that’s it for the potential of the album, however, the change of tone on Robin with the addition of upbeat guitar and flicking vocals resets the clocks a little.
There’s a cool bass line running through High Road, and Dreaming could easily be the lost track from the Grease soundtrack. Take Me to Heaven is initially a little hollow musically, with little standing out beyond the background, but it builds as the track progresses making it more interesting the more you listen.
Final track, Never to Part, is darkly back-lit with bassy organ, and shimmers up front with a jangling surf guitar and shining vocals. The trad’ organ mid section is class with the most stand out drum beats of the album.
The only big disappointment with Young and Old is that Deep in the Woods (see video), released with Origins as the Double A side first single for the album, isn’t in the track listing.
Tennis, Young and Old album review: 3.8/5
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