Liverpool indie outfit Hooton Tennis Club have been on hiatus since 2016’s Big Box Of Chocolates with primary songwriters Ryan Murphy and James Madden concentrating on their side-project Seatbelts (great in their own right, do check them out).

Hooton Tennis Club were in the midst of planning a full return to business when COVID-19 wreaked havoc across the globe but the band have released a double a-side ‘Monsoonal Runoff’ / ‘People Want People Who Want People’ – and the good news is they have lost none of their charm in the intervening years. In fact, it feels very much like a natural evolution from where they left off as ‘Monsoonal Runoff’ whisks us off on a Jacques Cousteau inspired exploration of hazy guitar jangles, irresistible melodies and breezy vibes with bittersweet, beautiful vocals sailing above. It’s companion, ‘People Want People Who Want People’, opens with a mournful air as gentle strum, rich violin and heartfelt vocals smouldering with emotion before exploding, ripped open by a scintillating riff and powerful rhythm, into a rousing indie-rock jam. It is hard to discern which is the best of the bunch so it’s pretty lucky they released the pair together – and in case it is obvious, it is great to have Hooton Tennis Club back.

Listen to ‘Monsoonal Runoff’ / ‘People Want People Who Want People’ below, along with fun video for the former.