Wet Tennis in Bloomington, MN

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
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,
is a lasting statement that shines with pop-savvy expertise and marks a significant step forward in
's musical growth. ~ Neil Z. Yeung