Way Out West (Way Out West album)

Last updated

Way Out West
Way Out West - Way Out West.jpg
Studio album by
Released1 September 1997 [1]
Recorded1994−97
Genre
Length67:12
Label Deconstruction Records
Producer
Way Out West chronology
Way Out West
(1997)
Intensify
(2001)
Singles from Way Out West
  1. "Ajare"
    Released: 3 November 1994
  2. "Domination"
    Released: 16 February 1996
  3. "The Gift"
    Released: 2 September 1996
  4. "Blue"
    Released: 18 August 1997
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [2]
Music Week Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [3]

Way Out West is the eponymous debut studio album by English electronic music duo Way Out West. It was released on 1 September 1997 by the since defunct record label Deconstruction Records, [4] and peaked at 42 in the UK Albums Chart that year. [5] The album includes its four singles, "Ajare", "The Gift", "Domination", and "Blue".

Contents

Background

The album's release was promoted by its four singles: "Ajare", "The Gift", "Domination" and "Blue", all released on Deconstruction Records. "The Gift" remains the group's highest charted song on the UK Singles Chart to date, peaking at number #15. [5] Both "The Gift" and "Domination" peaked at number 2 on the UK Dance Chart. [6] Despite its success, the album does not have record of charting outside of the UK.

Several samples from various music were used to create the album. On the topic of sampling, Wisternoff stated in an interview that "beforehand we ... came from poor backgrounds where we had (...) a sampler ... So we *had* to sample to get the sounds we imagined of." [7] Most notably, "Blue" loosely samples the melody of the theme from the film Withnail and I , "The Gift" samples Joanna Law's cover of "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face", (titled "First Time Ever") [8] and "Ajare" samples "Do Your Dance" by Rose Royce. [9]

Critical reception

Upon release, Way Out West was met with positive reviews from critics. John Bush from Allmusic summarised the album as "a varied, engaging debut". [2] In a review of Way Out West's second studio album Intensify , Christian Hopwood from BBC Music commented that "it [Intensify] might lack the variety of the first album [Way Out West]", he also praised "King of the Funk", describing it as "excellent". [10]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Blue"5:16
2."The Gift" (featuring Joanna Law)
7:21
3."Domination" (Mururoa Mix)
  • Wisternoff
  • Warren
8:41
4."Dancehall Tornado"
  • Wisternoff
  • Warren
7:45
5."Questions Never Answered"
  • Wisternoff
  • Warren
8:44
6."Sequoia"
  • Wisternoff
  • Warren
8:01
7."Ajare"
  • Wisternoff
  • Warren
  • Tilat Siddiqui
5:44
8."Drive By"
  • Wisternoff
  • Warren
6:39
9."King of the Funk"
5:38
10."Earth"
  • Wisternoff
  • Warren
  • Alison Cole
3:17
Total length:67:12

Charts

ChartPeak position
UK Albums Chart (OCC) [5] 42

Personnel

Way Out West

Sampled artists

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References

  1. "Way Out West (Promo)" . Retrieved 2 September 2017.
  2. 1 2 Way Out West - AllMusic review
  3. "Reviews: Albums" (PDF). Music Week . 23 August 1997. p. 12. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  4. "Way Out West - Way Out West". Discogs . Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  5. 1 2 3 "Way Out West - Chart history". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 10 August 2017.
  6. "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  7. "Way Out West Interview". YouTube . Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  8. "Way Out West featuring Miss Joanna Law - The Gift". Discogs . Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  9. "Way Out West - "Ajare" Sample". WhoSampled . Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  10. "BBC - Music - Review of Way Out West - Intensify". BBC . Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  11. "The Gift on Top Of The Pops". BlogSpot . Retrieved 24 July 2017.
  12. 1 2 "Way Out West by Way Out West". iTunes . Retrieved 24 July 2017.
  13. "Various - Dope On Plastic". Discogs . Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  14. "Way Out West on iTunes (2015 archive)". Archive.org . Archived from the original on 5 October 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
  15. Nimoy, Leonard. "Time Machine Alien Voices Leonard Nimoy". YouTube.
  16. Nimoy, Leonard. "The Time Machine". AlienVoices.