Disco is Dead; Long Live Disco
Enter the disco happy antics of Azari & III and their debut self titled album, a 10 track sprawl of dancy-go-lucky, electronic & drum loops. The appropriately titled duo Azari & III is a culmination of the music producers Dinamo Azari and Alixander III and their dance hall experiences made manifest by their deep house stylings. Traversing subgenres like pop electronic, nu-disco, and funk electronica, Azari & III is sure to get the feet moving of all within earshot.
“Into the Night” is a funky fresh opening track which starts off the album in 1975 with the overly cliché lyrics, “Let’s get it on, (3 times) Am I getting through?” The song, “Indigo,” incorporates primal screaming alongside dark analog keys and snare/clap patterns to create an emotional-yet-groovy instrumental piece, clocking in at a 6:20 runtime. The standout track, “Change of Heart,” uses trance-like swirling electronica to induce a lucid head-bobbing, toe-tapping experience. Wrapping up the album with a song as equally generic as the rest of the album, “Hungry for the Power,” repeats the title to the repeating sounds of synthesizer riffs.
Azari & III evokes the imagery of neon lit dance floors and disco balls, turning contemporary venues into a previous generation of dance music. Undoubtedly, it is a fantastic voyage through Miami and Hollywood nightclubs. The music is well produced and fans of deep house will find this record addictive, however, its repetitive nature simply cannot be overlooked. There is little variety and practically no originality here. For those who like to dance, just dance! The rest of us will shelve this record in favor of Sympho Nympho or Bee Gees.