TENNIS

Cape Dory

[Fat Possum]

The debut album by husband-and-wife duo Alaina Moore and Patrick Riley is a surf-pop treasure spawned by an eight-month sailing journey up the East Coast. Everything goes swimmingly on the surface of Cape Dory (named after the boat’s manufacturer), but a stream of melancholy lurks beneath the waves. The best songs are like wistful glances back towards the shore: “Marathon” rides along on a terrific bass line and the couple’s timid hopes, and “Seafarer,” with its deep sonic haze, shares their fears about this new adventure. Moore’s lilting harmonies, reminiscent of early-’60s girl groups, send out a feel-good vibe through the lo-fi production. The final track, “Waterbirds,” full of crashing cymbals and sexy come-ons, hints that better days may be ahead. For those who find the winter months empty and chilling, Cape Dory is a vacation of warm satisfaction. –Blake Boldt

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