Tennis, the acclaimed indie pop duo comprised of Alaina Moore and Patrick Riley, has announced their decision to take an indefinite hiatus following a farewell tour across North America. The news arrives not a moment too soon, as they’re about to drop their fifth studio album Face Down in the Garden. The album premiered on April 25 through the duo’s self-owned imprint, Mutually Detrimental. In the midst of their farewell, as a gift back to their fans, Tennis has shared their new single “12 Blown Tires.” This track is a perfect representation of their musical evolution over the last 15 years.
12 Blown Tires got its name from a fateful encounter on the shoulder of I-40, when the pair’s van and trailer blew out the rare quadruple tire failure in rapid succession. This incident inspired the lyrics of this song. It’s a testament to Moore’s storytelling ability that it so beautifully illustrates their travels and most importantly, the rollercoaster relationship between Moore and Riley. In looking back on their life as a band, Moore stated, “Coming off the heels of Face Down in the Garden, we knew that we had said all that we needed to say. We did everything we set out to do as a band.”
The album Face Down in the Garden features nine tracks, including “12 Blown Tires,” and highlights Tennis’ distinctive sound that often evokes imagery of tide patterns, shifting winds, and sandbars scraping beneath hulls. The album is packed with other tracks that push the boundaries. Listen to At the Apartment, Weight of Desire, At the Wedding, Always the Same, Sister, Through the Mirror, I Can Only Describe You, and In Love (Release the Doves).
The release of Face Down in the Garden is celebrated alongside another project, Neutral Poetry: First Recordings, Unreleased Demos 2009-2010, which will include early versions of songs from their debut album as well as previously unheard tracks from those sessions. Catch of the Day and rarities compilation release on May 16. This launch happens to coincide with the kickoff of their final tour – in Las Vegas, no less!
This tour will be a bittersweet, yet celebratory milestone for Tennis as they enter the final chapter of an adventurous and experimental era. Moore shared, “This will be our final studio album as Tennis in this form. We are excited to start new creative endeavors and white space in our lives for new experiences.”
The announcement, to say the least, has caused a firestorm of ecstasy and terror among fans, who have been with Tennis since day one. Their music has drawn comparisons to everything from personal storytelling to expansive sonic imagery. Music critic Mark Richardson observed that their music, featured in their just-released full-length debut, evokes the best aspects of nature. It conjures up visions of tide rips, wind shifts, and sand bars brushing under hulls. This lyrical depth is particularly evident in “12 Blown Tires,” which serves not only as a farewell but as a distillation of memories amassed over years spent touring and creating music together.