8/10

Since their earliest beginnings, married couple Alania Moore and Patrick Riley aka Tennis have always looked to create a vast and diverse array of music that seems to move fluidly throughout a range of genres and influences. The band's flexible style has been a mixture of blessing and hinderance on previous albums, with their more experimental side sometimes taking focus away from their genuine hits. But as they return with their fifth full-length 'Swimmer', it is clear that the pair have managed to control their ambitious ways as they deliver their most succinct and exciting collection to date.

Thinking through their back catalogue, there has always been a theme of eclectic imagination to their work. But the couple have always seemed more at home creating these broad yet lo-fi alt-pop compositions, and this is exactly what 'Swimmer' looks to pursue throughout its runtime. Bouncing lightly from one sweeping offering to the next, this new record seems to find the duo in a far more reassured guise. No longer looking to push the boundaries of their sound, they have found a distinct and progressive direction that they embark on with gusto and aplomb throughout.

Tennis may have been your favourite undiscovered cult band until now, but there is definitely a case to be made that this one could become the release that makes them the household name they more than certainly deserve to be. A fresh and vibrant offering that sees them get better and better with age.