Solving Time: around an hour and 15 minutes (in two sittings)

Azed’s Monthly puzzle for May was a Plain puzzle with a short word to clue.

Finding a starting point is sometimes tricky with Azed, although the longer answers are frequently anagrams.  I found this to be the best way in this month. 

This was quite a tough puzzle and took me about half an hour longer than usual. Unfortunately, upon checking the copy I sent in, I
made a transcription error with 25 across. so no chance of an HC this month.
ACROSS  * = ANAGRAM    (r) =  REVERSAL

1  KETUBAH Anagram of TAKE HUBBY less BY.
7  ALODS ALS (historical form of AS) with DO (= DITTO) INSIDE
11 RHODYMENIA Def = edible seaweed.  An anagram of HARDY ONE I’M
12 SLAY  Greatly amuse = SLAY.  A in SLY = Cunning
13 DAY COAL Upper mine layer = def.  AY =  always inside A CLOD*
14 SOMONI Currency in Tajikistan = def. SO MONIED = very well off, less ED
17 MINISCULE Trivial, generally frowned upon = def.  MUSIC NEIL*
18 ANENT  in line with = def.   AN ENTRY less RY
19 NUBBIN Underdeveloped ear = def  BIB* inside NUN
21 MITRES Joints = def.  TIRE* inside M S - An excellent clue.
24 NOINT A slightly complex clue that took me a while to work out.
  I think it says that “Oil Paint’s to brush on with NO INT”
25 ATTRAHENS Decriptive of a particular muscle = def.  THAT’S NEAR*
28 ROBOTS SA lights = def  B in ROOTS
30 TIMBALE Mould = def.  LAMB* in TIE
31 GLOW  G + LOW   bloom = def
32 INDIGOFERA Tropicl plants = def.  GOFER in INDIA
33 NEESE EEN (R) + SE
34 MAD BRED created with passion = def.  BARD* inside MED     

DOWN
1  KISS  The word to be clued this month.
2  EFLORNITHINE What restricts mane = def THE FINER LION*  Another nice clue.
3  TRAMPETTE Gym machine = def.  TRAM + PETTE(d)
4  BORNITE IT inside  BORNE
5  ADDINS Richard Addinsell (Warsaw Concerto)  minus ELL
6  HYALIN ANYCHILD* minus CD   Transparent stuff = def.
7  AMYAS Lowly squire = def E.G mother =  SAY MA (r)
8  LECH  Hidden answer  subtLE CHarms
9  DIALLING TONE  A glorious clue, poss my second favourite of the month.  Help rising  =  AID (R) j  Jazz Great =  (Duke) ELLINGTON moving its first letter to last.  Great stuff!
10 SALIENTS Bits of fortification =  def.  offensive =  ALIEN inside ST S (Stone Square)
15 TUBICOLAR RUB CAT + OIL* 
16 LAMANTIN Probably the best clue I have seen in a while!  SEA COW = definition    HOMO SAPIENS =  MAN in LATIN -  Outrageous and brilliant!
20 UNNOTED Overlooked = def.  NOUN*  + TED (Teddy Boy - gone from “real life”, but still with us in Crosswordland!)
22 SHALOM HALO in SM (See the old song “Kiss me goodnight, Sergeant Major)
23 TEREFA REF in TEA
26 ADAGE Saw = def (check for noun) Bill =  AD + AGE
27 IBIS  Wader = Def  IB (abbreviation - ibidem = in the same place) + IS (Island)
29 SWAD  Hick = def.  W in SAD  Nice allusion to Graeme Hick - cricketer in clue!

A splendid puzzle that all Azed fans will have enjoyed.  If you are at a loose end today and have been a bit frightened by those funny looking puzzles with bars, perhaps you should have a go.

Aw…go on, go on, go on……. 

Solving time: 20′

Another rather fast solve for me… though spent a couple of minutes at first staring until the first clue (EVITA) succumbed. VP Spiro Agnew shows up again, proving that he’s not just anagram fodder. A few other American clues (GALVESTON, FAIRBANKS, RANCHES) but not really enough to identify a theme.

Across

Down