We’ve been keeping a pretty steady record of North London duo Tender’s releases over the past year or so, and that’s because this pair have been consistently brilliant. From the start, they’ve had their collective finger on the pulse of their own sound, and they haven’t put a digit wrong since. Tender are being as good as ever to us this week by serving up not one but two freshly baked tracks ‘Handmade Ego’ and ‘No Devotion’. While both are great, we’re leaning a little more towards a-side ‘Handmade Ego’ today, which opens with a slick verse of hushed persuasion and proto-R&B electronics. From these minimalist ultra-modern beginnings, we’re led into a funkadelic space with deep-groove bass, jazz drums, and atmospheric guitar riffs. We switch between these two soundscapes in a Jekyll and Hyde fashion, each transition signalled with a sustained synth pause that’s potent with sensual tension. ‘Handmade Ego’ must be one of Tender’s most diverse tracks, encompassing so much of what we already love about this basement born-and-bred duo. - Hannah Thacker