Way Out West (Way Out West album) explained

Way Out West
Type:studio
Artist:Way Out West
Cover:Way Out West - Way Out West.jpg
Released:1 September 1997[1]
Recorded:1994−97
Length:67:12
Label:Deconstruction Records
Next Title:Intensify
Next Year:2001

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,[2] and peaked at 42 in the UK Albums Chart that year. The album includes its four singles, "Ajare", "The Gift", "Domination", and "Blue".

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. Both "The Gift" and "Domination" peaked at number 2 on the UK Dance Chart.[3] 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."[4] 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")[5] and "Ajare" samples "Do Your Dance" by Rose Royce.[6]

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". 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".[7]

Personnel

Way Out West

Sampled artists

In popular culture

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Way Out West (Promo). 2 September 2017.
  2. Web site: Way Out West - Way Out West. Discogs. 27 May 2017.
  3. Web site: Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40 . Official Charts Company. 5 April 2018.
  4. Web site: Way Out West Interview. YouTube. 16 July 2017.
  5. Web site: Way Out West featuring Miss Joanna Law - The Gift. Discogs. 27 May 2017.
  6. Web site: Way Out West - "Ajare" Sample. WhoSampled. 16 July 2017.
  7. Web site: BBC - Music - Review of Way Out West - Intensify. BBC. 23 June 2017.
  8. Web site: Way Out West - Chart history. Official Charts Company. 10 August 2017.
  9. Web site: The Gift on Top Of The Pops. BlogSpot. 24 July 2017.
  10. Web site: Way Out West by Way Out West. iTunes. 24 July 2017.
  11. Web site: Various - Dope On Plastic. Discogs. 22 August 2017.
  12. Web site: Way Out West on iTunes (2015 archive). Archive.org. https://web.archive.org/web/20151005093341/https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/way-out-west/id359093695. dead. 5 October 2015. 24 July 2017.
  13. Web site: Nimoy . Leonard . Time Machine Alien Voices Leonard Nimoy . YouTube.
  14. Web site: Nimoy . Leonard . The Time Machine . AlienVoices.