Four years after the release of their Grammy-nominated debut, New York-based dance music duo
Sofi Tukker issued their sophomore album,
Wet Tennis. Even more effective than their breakthrough, this addictive offering from Sophie Hawley-Weld and Tucker Halpern is nourishing, soulful, and confident, totally trimmed of fat while sparing none of the pulsating, sensual energy that made them an international sensation in the late 2010s. A big part of that global appeal sprang from Hawley-Weld's use of Portuguese, as on early single "Drinkee," and she was wise to continue on
Wet Tennis standouts "Kakee" and "Mon Cheri." When she's swapping verses with Halpern, the call-and-response party atmosphere is amplified further, like on the slinky and stylish throbber "Original Sin" and the rollicking
Fatboy Slim-channeling "Freak." Custom-designed to get bodies moving, the summer-friendly set includes crowd-pleasers such as the festival-sized house anthems "Sun Came Up" with Chicago DJ
John Summit and "Hold" with former tourmates BOII, as well as the duo's greatest bid for a radio crossover hit yet, "Summer in New York," a breezy slice of the city that interpolates
Suzanne Vega's iconic uptown ode "Tom's Diner." Meanwhile, they expand their sonic scope with flourishes of booming jazz-funk ("Wet Tennis"), bass-driven worldbeat (the aforementioned "Mon Cheri" with beloved Malian duo
Amadou & Mariam), and sweeping violin (the gorgeous,
Lindsey Stirling-esque "Forgive Me" featuring Turkish producer
Mahmut Orhan). Not just an escapist pleasure,
Wet Tennis is a lasting statement that shines with pop-savvy expertise and marks a significant step forward in
Sofi Tukker's musical growth. ~ Neil Z. Yeung