Customer Reviews

Don't Look Now

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was skeptical when I first picked up this cd (my first experience with way out west) but was pleased after a few listens. I was drawn to this album after hearing the radio-ready first track, and though I tired of it fairly quickly I found there was much to be discovered on the rest of the album. Way out west is superbly fine-tuned original techno, the kind that's hard to find in a sea of DJ mixes and traditional compilations. The first cd is addictive and grows on you quickly... Lots of heavy emotion and drama, and great vocals though most tracks are instrumental. The beats are heavy but crisp, and the noises are creative and varied, keeping you interested throughout the journey.

Let's start with the original album disc. It has an incredible mix of soothing house vocals (the new super hit Anything But You and Melt) and flaring instrumentals (Apollo and the even better Killa). The disc is an even blend of both, with just the right dose of vocals at just the right times. Ulrich Schnauss collaborates on the quirky instrumental track Northern Lights, and gets his face on the cover for it! A sample of Tangerine Dream is even used on one track.

Now I got my CD in Sept, from the UK, which puts the CD out on the Distinctive label, so I am not sure if the tracks are going to be different on the US release bonus mix CD or not. If they are the same, both Amazon UK and US got the tracks wrong, as my CD is much different from Amazon UK's tracklistings (which still differs from the US's). Anyway, this mix CD starts off with some melodic progressive house, until piledriving into some incredible dance floor stomping house tracks, like WOW's own Pulse of Life, which is awesome. Another standout is Carrier by David West, which drives the BPM's way up when you reach track 12. You also get Palava's Surrender, a nice male vocal dance floor track. Also, there are no tracks with expletives in the title, as Amazon US seems to list.

Overall, you get two incredible CD's for the money, one sweet Prog. house mix, and one great new album.

Way Out West has come through again. These guys blow me away. Their understanding of music and their patience in arrangement makes this album one of the, if not the smartest, and most accessible electronic alubms to date. I seriously cannot believe how good this album is. WOW's use of female vocals from Omi don't over take the album, but are used perfectly. The vocals don't own any of the songs, but are placed and sequence eloquently, same goes for the lyrics themselves.
I could not be more happy and impressed with the direction that Way Out West has pushed breakbeats. I have goosebumps just thinking about this album, and I haven't even heard the bonuc mix cd yet!!!

When I purchased the album, I listened to it non-stop in my car, on my laptop, and on my stereo for 4 straight months. With most CDs, the novelty wears off and it's impossible to listen to the CD without rotation. It's such a different CD than Intensify--- dare I say more radio-friendly? Each and every track on this album is strong. This album represents a cohesive effort, a musical journey if you will.

While half the tracks on this album are vocal, I don't think it detracts at all from Way out West's reputation for producing quality progressive breaks music. With a good interjection of groovable non-vocal tunes like Killa, Northern Lights, Apollo, and Chasing Rainbows it definitely helps to offset the flavorful Don't Forget Me, Just Like a Man, and Melt.

If you loved Intensify, there's no question you'll love Don't Look Now. It's a more mature effort and it really sets the bar high for WOW's as an artist that will be difficult to beat. In some ways, yes, it is different from Intensify in that it strays away from a more standard 4/4 rhythm and sees Way out West experiment with different sounds and baselines. Vocalist Omi replaces Kirsty and Tricia-- I love Omi's voice. She is just at home on the pounding single "Anything But You" as she would be in a blues club.

The 2nd (bonus) CD is mixed by Way out West and has a more underground flavor. You might recognize a handful of the artists, but after listening to this set, you'll be tempted to research each and everyone's work. The vocal tracks are far and few, and while many might be tempted to term it a "throw-in," it really is a nice gem they've put together.

I'm a huge, huge electronic music lover and have listened to just about all the major electronic artists. I grew tired of a lot that was coming out into the scene. But WOW has always been producing inventive tracks and music, and I'm definitely looking forward to their next effort.

edit: Thought I'd look back at this album after the release of We Love Machine. This album is my favorite WOW effort. Some of the vocal tracks in the middle of the album such as Fear and Just Like a Man start to smash together, as somewhat incompatible. But "Killa" and "Apollo" are just wicked tracks. "Killa" represents to me at least, WOW's best single.

Having become a "real band" - employing a singer and drummer - during the production of many of the tracks on this album, Way Out West often show a different, more contemplative side to their music. Of course, the storming prog house and breaks for which they are best known remains, though this is only one side of this album of great depth and longevity.

Beginning with the tight kicks of the vocal-led "Anything But You", and moving into the slow and emotional "Don't Forget Me" (which although one of the weaker tracks on the album, has a tremendous set of remixes that are well worth checking out), WoW move into more familiar prog territory, with three consecutive instrumental tracks. "Everyday" features a house kick with a great piano melody, "Apollo" is a space-age breaks laden track with enough energy and melody to please any Way Out West fan, and "Chasing Rainbows" is a slower instrumental track with a great build. The next track, "Fear" kicks off with a fierce drum intro which builds and builds, and makes you wish for Omi's vocals to return. Well, in fact, they do. At the end of the build comes a huge breakdown where Omi sings, "Looked into my soul, and found no limits" - you have to listen to this album to believe how good it feels when that break hits you. "Apollo" and "Fear" are my two favourite tracks, although this album is nothing if not going to appreciated as much unless listened to from start to finish.
The two next tracks "Coming Home" and "Just Like A Man" are slow and vocal-led, but not to be categorised under 'filler', before leading into "Killa", a prog house track with an enormously (but not overly) long intro, before kicking into tribal chanting and bongo madness.
"Northern Lights", the collaboration with Ulrich Schnauss (he of "Far Away Trains..." fame) is a chilly melodic breaks track, at a pace slow enough to let you recover from the madness of the last track, before more tight breaks with a vocal, "Melt" put you into a dream state which will continue onto "Absinthe Dreams", which while melodic and dreamy, also has a nightmarish quality - those who know the source of the main sample (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) will agree, which is the perfect end to a glorious album.

But wait! There are two discs!!!
Yes, and although I'm not about to review disc two, I will say that this is one of the best prog mix CD's I have listened to in a very long time - not as good as disc 1, but still worth the admission price alone.

So WoW show they have aged and matured into an act capable of taking on the road, and released a great album. But I just want to know when their next one is coming out!!!

Ok so the cd is not as bad as the previous reviewer mentioned - however it is a softer Dido'ish version of Way Out West - While I would describe their previous CD (Intensify) as rockingly furious at times, I would say their current effort (Don't Look Now) is more atmospheric. This is not to say it's an Ambience CD, it does have it's rocking moments, but nothing as 'in your face' as the previous. Overall this CD is very well produced, and it's only fault is that it's not 'more of the same'... this is just a different side of Way Out West.

As a side note, I think both cds would make a great balanced playlist - One definitly balances out the other.

This album is my pick for best electronic album of 2004, and one of the best overall albums I have ever had the pleasure of listening to. You get the best of both worlds here, with Disc one containing WOW's original music, and Disc two containing a mix set best described as mesmerizing. There is only 1 track (of the entire album) on Disc two that I don't care for, and that is saying something for a two disc set. The rest of the songs are incredible. The vocals are very good, right up there with the vocals in DJ Tiesto's In My Memory album.

I am shocked this album is not more popular. This is definitely a hidden gem, destined to become a classic. If you buy this you will not be dissapointed.

I bet there are a few of us out there who are secretly inlove with the second half of this album. Yes, the fist disc is all original Way Out West material, fresh and clear, and as much as I try to see the higher meanings of the A side, the B is so much more romantic and explorative.
There is a lot of that Warrens' honesty in this music. That tasteful, lush and still very free sound that can bring together millions is definitely here. If I would to describe the music of the B side, it is: very melodic, groovy house, bright, light-in-sound percussion, very diverse, and yet all the tracks work in that magical special way that gives us the feeling ; D It reminds me a lot of the Renaissance: Revelations release, so if you know what I'm talking about, then you know that maybe this isn't such a waste of your time.
Get your hands on the mix side of this release any way you can!
About the tracklisting of the mix, one reviewer already mentioned it. There are 14 tracks on it. Maybe there was a mixup with some of the musicians?

This has been on rotation in my car for a few weeks. It's got some really great crispy breakbeats. The production is very clean, and the drums are tight. It's a two disk set so it's a good value as it offers over two hours of great listening music. Some of the best progressive house out there.

This album is not on the level as Way Out West's self titled album, but it is well composed and overall a quality album (CD1). W.O.W. use a lot of female vocal work in the tracks on this album. A couple of the tracks are enhanced by the vocal work, but most are deflated by the plain, steryotypical, overdone, and superficial lyrics which is a shame becuase most of the musical composition is very well done. I think people that are into the club scene or have a significant other that is into more "feminine" electronica would really enjoy the album.

The songs do tend to take on a "sameness" because of the heavy use of VAs, Romplers, and heavy filter use. Some analog synth work would have helped make the sound of the tracks more lively and diverse. The drum work is excellent as always.

CD2 is a progressive mix. I'm not much into the style so my opinion will be biased. I'm sure there are many people that would think it is great, but I found it to be too soft.