Crossword Genius

Home recording originally tense and awkward (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

inept

'awkward' is the definition.
(synonyms)

'home recording originally tense' is the wordplay.
'home' becomes 'in' ('he's home' can mean 'he's in').
'recording' becomes 'EP' (short for Extended Play, type of record).
'originally' suggests taking the first letters.
The first letter of 'tense' is 't'.
'in'+'ep'+'t'='INEPT'

'and' is the link.

(Other definitions for inept that I've seen before include "Incompetent and ineffectual" , "Futile" , "Clumsy, bungling" , "Hopelessly incapable" , "Standard required in a piece of work (colloq.)" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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