AZD (pronounced "Azid") is the fifth studio album by British electronic musician Actress (real name Darren Cunningham). It was released on 14 April 2017 on Ninja Tune Records.[13][14] Upon its announcement, the video for the lead single "X22RME" was released on Ninja Tune's YouTube channel.[15][16] AZD is Actress's fifth album. The preceding album, Ghettoville, had been suspected to have been his last.[17]
| AZD | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 14 April 2017 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 55:15 | |||
| Label | Ninja Tune | |||
| Producer | Darren Cunningham | |||
| Actress chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AnyDecentMusic? | 7.5/10[1] |
| Metacritic | 81/100[2] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [3] |
| The A.V. Club | A[4] |
| Financial Times | [5] |
| The Guardian | [6] |
| NME | [7] |
| The Observer | [8] |
| Pitchfork | 7.9/10[9] |
| Q | [10] |
| Record Collector | [11] |
| Resident Advisor | 4.2/5[12] |
As an artist, Actress has always been considered vague in regards to the intentions behind his actions and albums. Christian Eede of The Quietus writes that while a common theme of Cunningham's albums reportedly experienced by listeners is death and a downbeat vibe, AZD shows Actress in a more humorous and open light.[17]
Cunningham tends to give vague titles to his music works to give his audience a glimpse of what the concept of the pieces are instead of fully revealing his thoughts on his songs.[17]
The album has a central concept of the sound associated with 'chrome'.[18] Chrome can represent futuristic ideals while also conveying coldness which in turn could represent human dissociation. Even with this, AZD is a big change in terms of energy from past albums. Its energy is described and felt as higher, as it is not as gloomy or dark as his others.[17]
Track listing
editTrack listing adapted from Ninja Tune's website.[19]
All tracks are written by Darren J. Cunningham
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Nimbus" | 0:54 |
| 2. | "Untitled 7" | 5:13 |
| 3. | "Fantasynth" | 5:02 |
| 4. | "Blue Window" | 3:42 |
| 5. | "Cyn" | 3:18 |
| 6. | "X22RME" | 5:04 |
| 7. | "Runner" | 5:12 |
| 8. | "Falling Rizlas" | 2:25 |
| 9. | "Dancing in the Smoke" | 6:21 |
| 10. | "Faure in Chrome" | 6:02 |
| 11. | "There's an Angel in the Shower" | 7:33 |
| 12. | "Visa" | 4:29 |
| Total length: | 55:15 | |
References
edit- ^ "AZD by Actress reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
- ^ "Reviews and Tracks for AZD by Actress". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
- ^ Kellman, Andy. "AZD – Actress". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
- ^ O'Neal, Sean (14 April 2017). "Actress reemerges and reclaims himself on the enjoyably idiosyncratic AZD". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
- ^ Hunter-Tilney, Ludovic (14 April 2017). "Actress: AZD — 'tenuous application to melody'". Financial Times. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
- ^ Petridis, Alexis (13 April 2017). "Actress: AZD review – a brilliantly twisted, introverted take on dance music". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
- ^ Cooper, Leonie (12 April 2017). "Actress – 'AZD' Review". NME. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
- ^ Mackay, Emily (16 April 2017). "Actress: AZD review – electronic maverick gets playfully deep". The Observer. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
- ^ Ballard, Thea (12 April 2017). "Actress: AZD". Pitchfork. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
- ^ Yates, Steve (July 2017). "Actress: AZD". Q (373): 104.
- ^ Bowler, Paul (June 2017). "Actress – AZD". Record Collector (467). Retrieved 9 January 2020.
- ^ Finlayson, Angus (12 April 2017). "Actress – AZD". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
- ^ "Actress returns with fifth album, AZD". Fact Magazine. 14 March 2017.
- ^ "Actress announces new album AZD, shares video for new track "X22RME"". Tiny Mix Tapes. 14 March 2017.
- ^ "Actress - 'X22RME'". Ninja Tune. 14 March 2017.
- ^ "New Actress album, AZD, coming out on Ninja Tune". Resident Advisor. 14 March 2017.
- ^ a b c d Eede, Christian (13 April 2017). "Christian Eede On Actress' AZD". The Quietus. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
- ^ Petridis, Alexis (13 April 2017). "Actress: AZD review – a brilliantly twisted, introverted take on dance music". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
- ^ "Actress AZD". Ninja Tune. 14 March 2017.
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