AZD

AZD doesn't break out of the "simulated prism." Most of its tracks could've been snuck onto one of Cunningham’s past albums. But it sounds like the producer has found inspiration again.

'AZD' can be described as nothing short of supremely unique, with the eerie radiance that the album gives off, allowing for the listener to become completely lost in Cunningham's own world.

Musically, it takes listeners through a dystopian dance-floor dream universe, with the shiny but comforting hand from its cover as our guide.

The contents of AZD are strong enough to stand up on their own, whatever you make of the accompanying screeds.

Splazsh and R.I.P. remain Cunningham's most novel and creative full-lengths, but this thrill-filled one, whatever it's about, is his most direct.

AZD feels like a living soundscape full of inventive arrangements, abstract sojourns, techno flourishes and a splash of musique concrete. AZD is an album you have to digest in full rather than dipping in and out.

Actress’ sixth LP reaches deep into both Darren Cunningham’s clubbiest and most avant-garde impulses, exploring language and Afrofuturism while maintaining a musicality that holds the listener close.

AZD is a slim, sparse electronica record. For all its high and low frequencies, it leaves much of the human audible range empty, space to imagine.

It further reinforces his reputation as one of British electronic music’s most consistently vital voices.

Impressive in the overall variety, AZD has a lot of different styles in its few songs. Alternatively that variety does not extend within the songs themselves making some of the longer tracks feel a little too indulgent and at times not worth their length.