AZD (album)
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
Track listing adapted from Ninja Tune's website.[19]
All tracks are written by Darren 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
- "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.
- 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.