Intensify

Way Out West

Product Details

• CD-R (September 18, 2001)
• Original Release Date: September 18, 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Nettwerk
• ASIN: B00005O7V7
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #140,678 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
British DJ-producer Nick Warren has long been making mixes and music for highway consumption. Most of his Global Underground compilations, such as Amsterdam, lend themselves to long road trips and smooth shifts in velocity. So it's no surprise that this, another project with Bristol dance music wunderkind Jody Wisternoff, is also made for movement. Consisting of progressive trance with some soulful textures and melodies woven into its fabric, Intensify is more emotionally balanced than a straightforward mix, yet it retains enough beat-driven drama to work comfortably as a continuous affair.

"The Fall," already a club anthem, kicks things off, then the record moves through the interstate trance of "Activity," the ethereal "Hypnotise," and the pedal-to-the-metal "Intensify Part 01." The duo also get a touch experimental on songs like "Stealth," featuring Kirsty Hawkshaw, and the exciting, expansive tribal trance of "UB Devoid." Like almost everything involving Nick Warren, Intensify is a fine release brimming with creativity, passion, and a curious but successful juxtaposition of the familiar and unknown. --Steffan Chirazi

Product Description
Intensify

This product is manufactured on demand using CD-R recordable media. Amazon.com's standard return policy will apply.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Way Out West is Defining the Sound of Tomorrow, October 28, 2001

By	Colin Allrich (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

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]

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Previous Reviewer.., November 17, 2002

By	Zephaniah (Mountain, WI United States) - See all my reviews

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.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Progressive House Heroes!, August 28, 2002

By	Scott A. Hammel (Orlando, FL USA) - See all my reviews

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.