more from
Far Out Recordings
We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Azimuth

by Azymuth

supported by
Gus
Gus thumbnail
Gus I'm from Brazil, and for me, this album represents Brazil's music at its best. Azymuth was in their peak at the time of this LP. I never get tired of listening this album. Favorite track: Wait For My Turn.
Torsten
Torsten thumbnail
Torsten What a belter of an album, fresh, daring and already showing Azymuth’s talent in creating their own blend of Brazilian soundscapes. No surprise that they are still going strong. A must for any fan! Favorite track: Estrada Dos Deuses.
Daniel Schmitt
Daniel Schmitt thumbnail
Daniel Schmitt A real classic, that shouldn`t be missing in any collection. Favorite track: Linha Do Horizonte.
Daniel Roehrig
Daniel Roehrig thumbnail
Daniel Roehrig Love it, one of my best buys in the last 10 years. Remember some i guess sampled remixes of them in the 90ies. Favorite track: Melo Dos Dois Bicudos.
Ethan Diamond
Ethan Diamond thumbnail
Ethan Diamond The Headhunters’ Survival of the Fittest is one of my all time favorites, and this just feels like those guys headed to Brazil around the same time and recorded yet another awesome record. Hard to pick a favorite between Melo Dos Dois Bicudos and Periscopio. Favorite track: Periscopio.
more...
/
  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      £7 GBP  or more

     

  • Compact Disc
    Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Includes unlimited streaming of Azimuth via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

    Sold Out

  • Gatefold Vinyl LP
    Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    Includes unlimited streaming of Azimuth via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

    Sold Out

  • Azymuth Illustration T-Shirt
    T-Shirt/Shirt

    Introducing the Far Out Masters series!

    Far Out Recordings launches an exclusive, limited-edition series of T-shirts featuring some of the label's most iconic music makers, in collaboration with São Paulo based artist Talita Hoffman

    Printed on 100% cotton T-shirts

    Fits true to size

    Sold Out

1.
2.
3.
Brazil 03:58
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Morning 03:48
10.
Periscopio 07:36

about

The original line up of Azymuth consisted of José Roberto Bertrami on keyboards and synths, Alex Malheiros on bass, Ivan Conti (aka Mamão) on drums and timbalas, plus Ariovaldo Contesini on percussion. Bertrami was the drive behind Azymuth’s sound - a control freak and musical genius obsessed with the latest technology who wanted to use it to push the boundaries of music in a way that no one else in Brazil had done. His use of keyboards has drawn comparisons between Azymuth’s work and Herbie Hancock’s early 70s output, yet with its Brazilian swing Azymuth’s electric jazz sound is unmistakeably their own. Conti is an impulsive and an incredibly energetic drummer, and the real hardcore Carioca of the trio. Alex Malheiros, who learned his trade playing with the master of Brazilian swing, Ed Lincoln. Alex is respected in Brazil as one of the original groove masters.

Bertrami rose to fame as an arranger in the mid-60s and by the late 60s he was arranging for the queen of Brazilian music, Elis Regina. This pushed him into the major league and by the early 1970s he was arranging for the burgeoning TV novella scene. When he was not working, Bertrami made trips to New York to buy the latest keyboards and synths, ensuring he had the most up to date range of keyboards in Brazil. His work in TV Novellas meant Bertrami knew most of the A&R people in the Brazilian music industry, yet when he shipped the demos that became the core of this album round to them in 1973, they didn’t share his vision - one label even going as far as to say that the music was ‘wrong’.

Released in summer 1975, the album was a minor commercial success selling 200,000 copies. Opening track ‘Linha do Horizonte’ – a sublime piece of melancholic electronic saudade where deep cinematic synths melt into gently strummed acoustic jazz guitar - was chosen for a TV Novella and went on to sell half a million, propelling Azymuth onto the Brazilian music scene.

The rest of the album doesn't disappoint – track 2, ‘Melô dos dois bicudos’, sees Azymuth plugging them into the Brazilian national grid for a slice of electrified psyched out samba funk with crashing military drums, shrieking sirens and psych synths. Track 3 ‘Brazil’ is a lolloping bass led groover with Bertrami’s melody giving the track a charming, innocent naivety, and track 5 ‘Caça A Raposa’ is a boogie jazz funk groover with Bertrami adding a Flora Purim style vocal melody.

Azymuth went on to become one of the best-selling jazz artists of the 80s with their future albums for Milestones, unquestionably the biggest jazz label of that decade. ‘Azimuth’ is the album that kickstarted it all for them, the record that was the blue print and definition of their ‘samba doido / crazy samba’ sound.

credits

released February 16, 2015

license

all rights reserved

tags

If you like Azymuth, you may also like: