Azaxx - The Exotic Delight Bay EP
(12") Tru Thoughts TRUEP184, 2009-03-09

'The Exotic Delight Bay' is packed with the temperature-raising flavours and rhythms that Azaxx soaked up on his recent travels in Brazil, stripped back and mixed with influences from old mambo and salsa records to modern breaks, jazz and liquid funk, and aimed straight for the dancefloor.

Tracklisting :
A1. Carioca Paradise 5:25
A2. Happy Mango 5:23
B1. Zorbanissimo 5:26
B2. Wild Strawberry Jelly 5:33

Links :
myspace.com/azaxx1
tru-thoughts.co.uk/artists/azaxx




Press Release :
This is French producer Azaxx's first full release on Tru Thoughts (although his track “Fiesta Tropical" was featured on the 'Shapes 07:02' label compilation) but he is no stranger to acclaim – most notably for his track “Bahia", a funky breaks head-nodder which came out on Freddy Fresh's 45s label Howlin' Records. Hand-picked by electronica guru Fresh as one of his essential tracks of the moment, the “Bahia" 7" went on to nail the ultimate crossover seal of approval, being played on the John Peel Show.

A native of Rennes in North-East France, Azaxx has long been a major player at the funkier end of the city's dance music scene, DJing drum 'n' bass and beats in the early days through to an eclectic cocktail of Latin beats, jazz, soul, funk, breakbeat, broken beat and '60s and '70s grooves. With a knack for working a dancefloor, he has manned the decks at clubs across Europe and as far afield as Brazil, and is a regular DJ at the major Trans Musicales Festival. In an excellent and intriguing addition to his CV, he has also produced records for the harpist Alan Stivell, one of the most respected players of traditional Celtic music from his native Brittany.

'The Exotic Delight Bay EP' features as its lead track the dancefloor smashing Baltimore Club tune 'Carioca Paradise' giving a twist to the sound that's rocking clubs across the world. 'Happy Mango' keeps that Bmore theme but with a Brazilian Batucada influence on the drums and percussion. 'Zorbanissimo' has a more head nod and funky flavour whilst the EP is finished off with 'Wild Strawberry Jelly' with its squelchy bass and electronic influences.

Cherry-picking from a vast array of musical sources, using an MPC, a sequencer and some carefully deployed VSTs, Azaxx has chopped, mixed, stripped, layered, added his own personal stamp, and built a unique sound which combines a 'less is more' aesthetic with big, friendly beats and track-defining hooks.  Azaxx dreamt up most of the track names while sipping coconuts on the beach in the South American sunshine and, if that doesn't conjure up an idyllic enough mental image for you, the achingly picturesque scene on the album cover is a photo that he took while he was there.

Test pressings artwork :