Customer Reviews

Intensify

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Nick Warren and Jody Wisternoff prove to America why they lead the pack in the UK as one of the best progressive acts to ever emerge out of the dance scene on their sophomore album. The album, brimming with warm synth-scapes and devilish funk, is destined to become a classic.

"Intensify" picks up right where their self-titled debut left off back in 1997. Jody ( a music prodigy who was banging out beats in Smith and Mighty's studio as a young kid and who also broke into the first DMC championships finals as "Tru Funk Posse" with his younger brother) and Nick (a resident DJ at Cream, and the man behind a slew of Global Underground mixes) Show us their progressive style of house beats, full flavored melodies, and a driving passion for their music.

The album opens with the huge UK hit "The Fall" where the boys showcase that unique edge they bring to their tracks by adding melodic synth lines and the angelic voice from Coldcut's "Autumn Leaves" over the progressive house beats. "Call Me", another standout track, mixes dreamy piano riffs in with the sludgy synth lines and deep dubby beats. "Hypnotize" is by far my favorite track on the album. Its one of those tracks that just grabs a hold of you from the get-go and doesn't let go.
The uplifting vocal samples mixed into a stunning beat and bass progression alone with take you through the clouds, and the breakdowns and rebuilds are to die for without the horrible cheese factor that can be heard on so many tracks today.

Moving through the album, you'll come across some great tracks where the boys work with some outstanding female vocalists. "Stealth" is up first with its down-tempo, post-club vibe starring the haunting and heavenly vocals of Kirsty Hawkshaw (The great voice on BT's "Dreaming" & "Running Down the Way Up") laced over a break-beat rhythm. "Mindcircus" follows with vocals this time by Tricia Lee Kelshall, who's seductive voice is melted onto the progressive breaks and sweet piano progressions. And last but not least "Intensify", the latest single that has a spot on Seb (Fontaine)'s floor filler chart for Pete Tong's Radio 1, finishes up the album with its two part masterpiece that builds from a dreamy 3 a.m. intro into a driving, lose-your-mind four to the floor. The vocals by Alley Kennen on this are so riveting its unbelievable.

There's not really much more to say, Way Out West's album is one of this years masterpieces of progressive house, and a masterpiece of pure talent that will be listening to for years and years to come.

Check out more from the boy's of Way Out West:

Way Out West - Self Titled (1997) [Nick & Jody's debut album]
Jody - Way Out There [Jody's DJ mix for Bliss Productions]
Jody - E-scension 1 & 2 [Jody's DJ Mixes for Kickin' Records]
Nick Warren - Global Underground 03,08,11,& 18 [Nick's awesome mixes for GU]
Nick Warren - Back To Mine [A mix of Nick's after-hours favorites]

I just wanted to point out that despite what Erica Anderson says... Jody Wisternoff is NOT a female and did none of the vocals on this WOW album. He is Warren's partner in crime. He and Nick are one of Bristol's two dynamic duos (the other being that of 3d and Daddy G from Massive Attack, whom Warren was a former DJ for).

This is a very solid album, and as far as originality goes WOW are mf innovators. This album is top notch. I only wish the Bonus track was PMT's FABULOUS remix of the title track "Intensify".

And the vocalist for Stealth (as stated above) is Kirsty Hawkshaw (formerly of Opus III) who has been along MUCH longer than Jan Johnston.

Way Out West's Intensify has proven to rival their self-titled album. Their sophomore endeavor has set out to be more and has accomplished the task. Like a story, Intensify takes us on a journey filled with twists and turns as well as sheer emotive beauty. We first embark on The Fall, an energetic intro, to only be lost in the layering of flutes and synths of Activity. Later on we are then pumped up by the groovin' beats of Hypnotise while Stealth seduces us with Kirsty Hawkshaw's dreamy voice. Next up, we then encounter the dark and menacing sound of UB Devoid to then be thrusted into the electronic-pop sounds of Mindcircus. Wherein afterward we head off into the tribal beats and epic sound of Secret. At long last, we flow flawlessly into the high energy of Intensify Part One to only wind down with Intensify Part Two. Way Out West covers all bases with a vast variety of layering and vocal sampling. This album is sure to suit the diverse tastes of almost any fan of quality electronic music. A definite must have!

The name of the album is Intensify, not Intensity. This is not their first album, it is their second. The first is called 'Way Out West' and was not released in the united states for some incomprehensible reason, as it is an amazing record.

Intensify, however, puts it to shame. I am eagerly awaiting their third release 'Dont Look Now'. If you enjoy any aspect of electronic music, buy their albums. You will not regret it.

Despite an ongoing feud between Way Out West and their former record label Deconstruction, the boys finally got Intensify out on Nettwerk Records. Intensify is Way Out West's second full-length album, and is a very well done record at that. Nick Warren, and Jody Wisternoff comprise Way Out West and they have outdone themselves this time. Many of the singles on this album have already been released on 12" (The Fall, Stealth, and the newest Intensify), but the remaining tracks are all great. The Bedrock remix of The Fall was added on to the album as a bonus track. Many people would consider this record to be trance, but I think few would notice the intelligence behind each track. The tracks that stuck out to me were Hypnotise, a dark tribal cut that contrasts with the rest of the album perfectly, and UB Devoid, an almost sci-fi track that was developed perfectly. Some of the tracks with vocals, rubbed me the wrong way, because the vocals made the tracks seem overdone. Nick Warren has always been known as an excellent DJ, and it's nice to see he can create his own music at the same level as his DJ'ing.

There cannot be enough praise for this duo's fine efforts! Each track - alone - would have made this cd worth buying for. And since the number of tracks are eleven, plus the Bedrock remix, this is a great buy - simply! Also, since this release is so long-awaited, it's making it EVEN more enjoyable listening to. If you have Way Out West's debut album, then you have this album now too, but if you happened to miss their `blue album', then don't wait any longer with buying Intensify.

Way Out West really have skills in the studio, and they've got something that others don't. They know how to produce trance combined with true beauty and emotion. It's not difficult to distinguish a Way Out West tune, because it sounds... WoW.

Try to imagine a great trance tune, then Way Out West still are better. Try to imagine a most FANTASTIC trance tune... Way Out West still are better! Intensify is this good. Those who love music (and like it progressive) will appreciate this album, the versatility that's offered is very very impressive.

Way out West's sophomore album finally hits U.S. shores, and I trust things will never be the same again. Offering variation and imagination through the extent of the LP, Intensify is not for the faint of heart. All the grooves are inspirationally and thoughtfully crafted with meticulous detail, and you are guaranteed to hear something new every time you listen. The layers are thick and the many elements that make up these layers (pan flutes, sitars, soaring pads, vocals, bass guitars, live drum kits, harps, trumpets, monstrous basslines, and much more) combine to create lush tapestries of sound. Way out West may be coined a trance or progressive house outfit, but their ability to infuse organic instrumentation with electronic sounds with such ease is second-to-none. Thanks to this skill, Intensify is filled to the brim with soul, and will, subsequently, not grow old in even a month's time. In fact, it will become a staple in your cd collection for years to come. Definitely a classic in the making and not to be missed by connoisseurs of well-crafted electronic music.

This is such a great album. The sounds are both heartfelt and unique, with a sound that draws you in...brings you up...and explodes! Get it - you won't be disappointed. It is an original that takes you on a sweet ride.

This has got to be one of the best CDs I've come across, spanning dance through chillout genres ... it is one continuous, beautiful CD with absolutely no filler .... how many CDs can you say that about? From the amazing "Mindcircus" to the driving "The Fall" (sampling Coldcut's Autumn Leaves) to the gorgeous "Stealth", this is a brilliant addition not just to your dance music collection, but to your music experience in general.

An album whose brilliance, like Talmud, becomes increasingly evident with familiarity. Mindcircus and Intensify give Domination--still WOW's best track ever--a run for its money. The tightest, smartest and most emotive lyric-driven trance album ever produced by humanoid life forms. Just as in defining a state (Weberian or Westphalian), regardless of where you fall the name of the best trance artist out there now necessarily begins with a W: Warren or Wisternoff.