British: A world-renowned progressive house and remix act, was conceived in the bowels of Bristol, UK in early 1993. DJ and producer Jody Wisternoff had just been introduced to Nick Warren, and after a few hours in the studio together, they realized they had a common musical vision. Jody Wisternoff and Nick Warren have also maintained careers as successful DJs, both individually and together as Way Out West.
Jody's first collaboration with Nick, under the name Sub-version 3, was on a track called "Paradise is the Sound" which he and a friend had been working on. The next two releases were under the name "Echo" and the most popular versions were titled "Way Out West Mix." Originally intended as a remix project, the duo took a liking to the name and adopted it for the main act.
James Barton (A&R for Deconstruction in 1994) was suitably impressed with independent releases such as "Shoot" and "Montana" and signed them to Deconstruction - the only label Nick and Jody wished to join. "Ajare," a tune that hinted at what was to come with pop hooks, bizarre samples, meticulate synth stabs, and epic hindu swirlings, reached #62 in the UK singles chart. The harder, trancier "Domination" followed before "The Gift" charted at #15 and established Way Out West as one of the foremost house acts in the UK. "Blue," a melodic trip-hop groove, was released with a menacing club mix in 1997. "Ajare" was also re-released with an impressive new remix from the boys themselves and Brothers in Rhythm (a.k.a. Dave Seaman).
Way Out West's first eponymous album, "Way Out West", was released in 1997 to huge critical acclaim. With this album, Way out West tiptoed effortlessly into the gap between the mainstream and raveland and produced one of the finest British house albums yet released. Tracks such as "King of the Funk" and "Sequoia" seemed to provide the perfect summer soundtrack. The single "Blue" was seen on TV with its bizarre video featuring cult actor Harry Dean Stanton. Nick and Jody set off on tour and played high-powered live shows all over Europe (including Glastonbury Festival, Amsterdam (MTV party) and MIDEM in France).
After BMG graciously (sic) removed Way out West from their roster in December 2000 due to disappointing returns from the "The Fall" (samples the chill-out classic "Autumn Leaves" by Coldcut) single released earlier that year, Distinctive Records offered Way out West a three-album contract.
Their second album Intensify, released in 2001, a masterwork of swirling atmospherics, big trancy beats and a musical sensibility previously unprecedented within the genre, found a new home and was set for release in the UK on August 13th with the single of the same name (featuring the vocal talents of Ally Kennen) to be released the preceding week. The album appeared in the Dotmusic top 100 charts for that week, so it had obviously turned some heads. The album was released in North America by Nettwerk the following month. The next single, "Mindcircus," featuring the vocals of Tricia Lee Kelshall, was released to a great fanfare in March of 2002 and managed to hit #39 in the UK singles charts and #1 in the UK dance charts. It's success continued by reaching #15 in the US dance charts. The loungecore "Stealth," possibly the finest moment on Intensify and featuring the angelic vocals of Kirsty Hawkshaw, was set to be the final single from the album, released on September 2nd.
The duo released their third full length album in 2004, "Don't Look Now, featuring the vocalist Omi on several tracks, and further defining their progressive sound to include more conventional song structures in addition to their drawn out compositions. The album also included a mix CD, displaying the duo's continued participation in the DJ scene.
Their song "Don't Forget Me" has been featured in Season 2 of Grey's Anatomy, and a loop of their song "The Gift" is used for the title theme on the MTV show True Life.
In the summer of 2006 Jody Wisternoff released a solo work, "Cold Drink, Hot Girl" which was followed up in November 2006 with "Nostalgia", both of which were critically acclaimed works.
Nick Warren's seventh (a record) Global Underground offering is due for release at the end of February 2007 and features two mixes inspired by the underground house clubs of Paris, France. Some of the music comes from Bristol label Hope Records, which Nick has recently joined in an A&R capacity. Nick has also been working on some projects of his own including a well received track with American DJ Jimmy Van M called "One And Only".
The duo's long-awaited fourth album, titled "We Love Machine," was released on October 5, 2009. The song "Only Love" featuring Jonathan Mendelsohn on vocals (the album marks their first collaboration with a male vocalist) is the first single off the album, released August 31, 2009. The album was released on Hope Recordings / Armada, but the duo have set up a direct order with a deluxe version available at their own website: www.wayoutwest.mu. The duo is also planning a live tour..
Official website www.wayoutwest.mu.
Australian: Way Out West are an Australian jazz group, formed in 2001. They originated in the western suburbs of Melbourne and are noted for their unusual instrumentation which includes West African drumming, and many traditional Vietnamese string instruments such as a dan tranh, dan nguyet and dan bau.
The band has performed at major international festivals such as the Montreal Jazz Festival, Vancouver Jazz Festival, and Veneto Jazz Festival.
Members are:
Peter Knight(trumpet),
Dung Nguyen (modified electric guitar, traditional Vietnamese instruments),
Paul Williamson (saxophone),
Ray Pereira (percussion),
Howard Cairns (acoustic bass),
Rajiv Jayaweera (drum kit).
Their second album, Old Grooves for New Streets (2007), received five star reviews in Australia, and a review by America's All About Jazz said, “Certainly a candidate for Best Release of the Year – I hope lots of ears hear this one!”.In 2009 the group won the Bell Award for Australian Jazz Ensemble of the year. The Sydney Herald observed, “That these exotic sounds blend so well with jazz is a mysterious Melbourne alchemy”.
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/wayoutwestmelbourne
Diamond Dust
Way Out West Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Time to grow wings
Follow the drum machines
Cold by the night into the strobe light
Far we live
Into the night
Far we live
Fight by the kings
Follow the drum machines
Caught by the night
Into the strobe light
Far we live
Into the night
Far we live
Move in
We move in
We move in
We move in
We move in
We move in
We move in the dark
Move in the dark
Send in an army of sparks
Far we live into the dark
Into the dark
Into the dark
Far we live
Into the dark
Move in
We move in
We move in
We move in
We move in
We move in
We move in the dark
We move in the dark (we live)
Send in an army of sparks
Far we live
Into the dark
Into the dark
Into the dark
Far we live
Into the dark
The lyrics to "Diamond Dust" by Way Out West present a mood of determination and defiance, inviting the listener to take action and follow the beat of the drum machines. The opening lines "Fools become kings, time to grow wings" suggest an opportunity for personal growth and liberation, as if the song is encouraging listeners to break free from limitations and become leaders in their own right. The repetition of "Follow the drum machines" reinforces this idea, urging the listener to let go and simply allow themselves to be guided by the music.
The second half of each verse introduces a contrast, with the singer declaring "Cold by the night, into the strobe light." This could imply a sense of risk or danger, a willingness to push boundaries and go beyond the comfort zone. The repeated phrase "Far we live, into the night" adds to this sense of adventure, as if the listener is being invited to embrace a journey into the unknown. The lyrics then build upon this sense of movement and action, urging the listener to think and fight by their own strings and kings and to embrace the challenge of living in the dark.
In conclusion, "Diamond Dust" is a song that encourages the listener to let go of fear and self-doubt, and instead embrace the unknown with a sense of determination and adventure. The combination of evocative imagery, repetition, and a driving beat create a powerful sense of momentum, urging the listener to take action and follow the beat of their own drum.
Line by Line Meaning
Fools become kings
People who were once foolish can grow to hold power and become like royalty
Time to grow wings
It is time to soar higher and reach greater heights
Follow the drum machines
Let the beat of the music guide you and move you forward
Cold by the night into the strobe light
Starting in a dark, cold place, but finding warmth and energy in the flashing lights
Far we live
Into the night
Far we live
We live a life far beyond our current surroundings and continue on through the night
Think by your strings
Take control of your own life and think for yourself, rather than letting others guide you like a puppet
Fight by the kings
Stand up and fight for what you believe in, even in the face of those who hold power
Caught by the night
Into the strobe light
Getting caught up in the excitement and energy of the night and the flashing lights
Move in
We move in
We move in
We move in
We move in
We move in
We move in the dark
We move forward bravely in the darkness, together
Send in an army of sparks
Use the energy and passion within yourself and others to create a dazzling display
Far we live into the dark
Into the dark
Into the dark
We continue to live our lives far beyond what we can see, in the unknown and the darkness
Writer(s): Nicholas Warren, Joseph Wisternoff
Contributed by Caden I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Anjunadeep
Out now: http://anjunadeep.lnk.to/WOWTMyo
Shonak Parbhoo
So on point! Thought the same thing.
Brian Anderson
This is incredibly beautiful, emotive and haunting. Not the first place I'd expect to find it but it is a very welcomed surprise.
Mevario
Absolutely stunnin. Instant favorite. This is the real music!
Kimberley Kooijman
This is not normal!! So brilliant! 👌🤗❤
Damir Mehmedbasic
Hope to see more of this coming. Good job lads
Coreen Mazzocchi
currently on repeat, this is brilliant
Mostafa Aly
The violin is mesmerizing!
Heni Abou el Seoud
You say this only because it sounds Arabic like you (and me) lol
Swaganomics 101: Jimmy Rustles
So incredible, what a beautiful atmosphere.