Search - Way Out West :: Don't Look Now

Don't Look Now
Way Out West
Don't Look Now
Genre: Dance & Electronic
 
  •  Track Listings (12) - Disc #1
  •  Track Listings (14) - Disc #2

As dance music has evolved, so too have Way Out West. What originally began life as a producer-based outfit has grown over the years. After two years of almost constant production work, writing and recording, the band are...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Way Out West
Title: Don't Look Now
Members Wishing: 1
Total Copies: 0
Label: Black Hole Recordings
Release Date: 9/9/2004
Album Type: Import
Genre: Dance & Electronic
Style: House
Number of Discs: 2
SwapaCD Credits: 2

Synopsis

Album Description
As dance music has evolved, so too have Way Out West. What originally began life as a producer-based outfit has grown over the years. After two years of almost constant production work, writing and recording, the band are set to release their third, and self-proclaimed, "best album to date" Don?t Look Now. Originally a duo, Bristol, UK-based producers Nick Warren and Jody Wisternoff ? top class international DJ?s in their own right; the pair have added a ?secret weapon?. Enter Omi. A featured vocalist on tracks for Starecase, Timo Maas, an all girl drum ?n? bass outfit, Eden and the one and only Peter Gabriel, Omi brings an emotional authenticity to Don?t Look Now that is sorely lacking on so many other electronica artist albums. Fans of Way Out West?s past releases won?t be disappointed, but neither will fans of Sarah McLachlan or Dido. It?s just that sort of album. Don?t Look Now glides from the staccato kick-drum and yearning vocals of upcoming single, ?Anything But You,? to the epic space age poignancy of ?Everyday.? Luscious soundscapes shift gracefully from the textured balearia of ?Chasing Rainbows? to the main room dirty odyssey of ?Killa? through to rollicking bongo twists and mangled basslines on ?Fear.? The album also includes a second CD bonus mix by DJ?s Nick Warren & Jody Wisternoff featuring tracks from Gray Area, Martin Buttrich, Hiratzka & Kazell, and Way Out West.

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CD Reviews

Good Album, But Not Great
C. Boulmay | Los Angeles, CA USA | 12/09/2005
(3 out of 5 stars)

"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."
Superb clarity and emotion
BGP | NY | 05/21/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."
A new direction for WoW
S. D. Bates | 05/19/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)

"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!!!"