Pembroke Tenneson’s “Sex Appeal” Is Built For A Room Full Of People

Put “Sex Appeal” on at a quiet dinner and it may seem like an unusual choice. Put it on when the evening is getting lively and its purpose becomes much clearer.

Pembroke Tenneson’s latest single, out now via Now Listen, is a party-minded rock number with deliberately outrageous lyrics. Its central character has decided he is irresistible, and he spends the song making sure everyone else hears about it.

The chorus is a big part of the appeal. The title comes back again and again, making the song easy to pick up after a couple of listens. Around it, Tenneson keeps throwing in fresh boasts and comic details, so the lyrics never settle into one repeated gag.

There is a sense of performance running through the whole thing. Tenneson has spent years playing weddings, parties and corporate events, and “Sex Appeal” gives him material that can be delivered with a bit of theatrical swagger. His description of the track as inspired by early-1970s rock also comes through in its larger-than-life approach.

It is the first release from a planned collection of 14 original songs. That makes this more than a one-off track. It introduces a songwriter who has spent a long time interpreting other people’s songs and is now putting his own material forward.

For listeners looking for something lively, cheeky and uncomplicated, “Sex Appeal” makes a good addition to the playlist. It knows its job and gets on with it.