Tennis have released what will be their final studio album, Face Down in the Garden, via their own label Mutually Detrimental.
The record arrives as a culmination of the band’s 15-year career and marks the end of an era for the husband-and-wife duo Alaina Moore and Patrick Riley, who formed the group in 2010.
Produced and recorded at home in Denver, Face Down in the Garden distills the band’s sound across their three established sounds, Brill Building pop, synth-pop and guitar-driven rock, into one final, reflective collection.
“We wanted to write ourselves off the map by doing the unexpected thing,” said Moore. “Despite being rattled by a strange year, it is our most confident album.”
That year included blown tires, an engine breakdown, a chronic illness and an attempted robbery at sea. The songs that emerged from that chaos, according to Moore, are “vignettes” that trace her life: “a first moment of connection, a conversation at a wedding, a night offshore, a tour diary.”
The pair announced earlier this month that they’ll be stepping away from Tennis following a final run of shows. Their North American farewell tour begins 16th May in Las Vegas and wraps in Saratoga, California on 4th September, including stops at First Avenue in Minneapolis, New York’s Rooftop at Pier 17, and the Greek Theatre in LA. Billie Marten and Husbands will support across various dates.
To bookend the milestone, Tennis will also release Neutral Poetry: First Recordings, Unreleased Demos 2009–2010, a new eight-track EP collecting early four-track recordings from the project’s formation. That release lands 16th May, the same day the tour begins.
Reflecting on the journey, Moore added: “Patrick and I spent most of our 20s and all of our 30s focused on Tennis. After finishing Face Down in the Garden, it became clear that we had said everything we wanted to say… These two kids from Denver who only ever dreamed of playing a few house shows are very fulfilled.”
Editors’ Picks
- Prima Queen: ‘You know when you check the service station reviews online? It’s like reading a novel about a tiny, unspoken world’
The connection between Louise and Kristin of Prima Queen is undeniable. Ahead of their debut album, they open up about their journey together and the music that’s brought them here. - ★★★★☆ Peach Pit at Manchester Academy review | There’s power in the sadness
Canadian indie crew Peach Pit combine melancholy and mischief in a magnetic Manchester Academy set. - How long should a gig really be?
As concerts grow longer and ticket prices soar, is value for money distorting what live performance should be? - ★★★★☆ The Crux review | Joe Keery balances reflection and roleplay on third Djo album
Joe Keery leans into limbo with The Crux, a psychedelic and reflective album that blurs fiction and self, nostalgia and futurism. - R.E.M., The Smiths, Nirvana – who might reunite next?
If Oasis is possible, is anyone off the table? Here are the reunions we’d love to see next. - Why, 20 years later, Dig! is still the ultimate music doc
As Dig! returns to cinemas, we revisit the chaos, creativity and collapse at the heart of a cult classic. - Overwhelmed? A guide to music’s most daunting discographies
Some bands release albums faster than you can listen to them. Here’s how to navigate the most overwhelming discographies in music history, from Johnny Cash to King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard.
Keep up to date with the best in UK music by following us on Instagram: @whynowworld and on Twitter/X: @whynowworld
