London electronic duo TENDER (James Cullen and Dan Cobb) recently released "Nadir", the first taste of their upcoming album from Partisan Records. The duo describe their music as "dark grooves with room to breathe"; "Nadir" certainly strikes this contrast between pessimistic subject matter (a decaying relationship) and a dynamic, melody-driven electro-pop sonic template:
"By definition “Nadir” means “the lowest or most unsuccessful point in a situation.” The song is about being in an unchanging and static relationship at its worst and the process of freeing yourself from that. Not in terms of bitterness or falling out of love, but rather the natural decline, and learning to love a person in a different way".
James Cullen, Stereogum
There song's chorus present fairly familiar phrases about the upcoming separation ('This is our divide/ Need to go our separate ways'), but there are some deadpan lyrical gems in the song's verses: 'I hate it when you touch me, but I kept it under wraps/ Get bored during foreplay, and I think we’re getting fat'. There's a refreshing blend of machismo and vulnerability on display here - an even-handed approach that looks to the future instead of dwelling on the past:
'This is our divideNeed to go our separate ways, I'm too scared if you stayWe’ll hold another grudge, who am I to judge?If I will wake up one day and miss you too muchYeah, we play with high stakes, it’s a risk I need to takeDirty beds and motels, cast your spell on someone elseBut you, but youYou’ll be happy over time, thank fuck for our decline'
Lyrics: Genius
