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, āCertainly a candidate for Best Release of the Year ā I hope lots of ears hear this one!ā.In 2009 the group won the Bell Award for Australian Jazz Ensemble of the year. The Sydney Herald observed, āThat these exotic sounds blend so well with jazz is a mysterious Melbourne alchemyā.
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/wayoutwestmelbourne
Melt
Way Out West Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Slip through these fingers, melt away
Slip through these fingers, melt away
Slip through these fingers, melt away
Slip through these fingers, melt away
Make me melt away
These words can be broken, washed away
Slip through these fingers, melt away
Make me melt away
Show you the reason why I have to stay
These words can be broken washed away
Show you the reason why i have to stay
Slip through these fingers, melt away
Make me melt away
'Cause you follow in order to lead
Make me melt away
'Cause you follow in order to lead
Make me melt away
And you feel me with your words
And you fill me with your voice
That's true
I've seen it in your eyes
I've seen it behind your smile
'Cause you follow in order to lead
\\"In his autumn before the winter,
Comes Man's last mad surge of youth.\\"
The lyrics to Way Out West's song "Melt" have a clear message of surrender, letting go and being swept away. The repetitive verses, "Slip through these fingers, melt away" emphasize this idea of losing control and giving into the moment. The singer is pleading to someone, to make them "melt away". The lyrics, "These words can be broken, washed away", suggest that the singer is trying to forget something or someone, but they are holding onto a reason for staying, which makes them vulnerable. The line, "And you feel me with your words, And you fill me with your voice" suggests that the person the singer is pleading to has a powerful influence over them.
The lyrics also find a profound meaning with the lines, "In his autumn before the winter, comes Man's last mad surge of youth". This quote is from a play called "Long Day's Journey into Night" by Eugene O'Neill. The play was written in the 1940s but set in 1912, and it explores the tension within a family. This line refers to the idea that just before someone reaches an old age, they become aware of their own mortality, and this creates a surge of energy in them. The song uses this line to suggest that the singer is in the autumn of their life, and they are feeling swept up in the moment.
Line by Line Meaning
Slip through these fingers, melt away
Things are fleeting and temporary, they slip away and melt like ice in your hands.
Make me melt away
I want to be consumed by the moment and become one with it.
These words can be broken, washed away
Words have the ability to be forgotten and disappear over time.
Show you the reason why I have to stay
I want to show you why I am here and why I want to be with you.
Cause you follow in order to lead
You lead by following, and through your guidance, I am able to discover my own path and grow.
And you fill me with your voice
Your voice has the power to uplift and inspire me.
That's true
I recognize the authenticity and truth in your words and actions.
I've seen it in your eyes
Your eyes reveal your true intentions and emotions.
I've seen it behind your smile
Even behind the joyous facade of your smile, I know there is depth and complexity to your thoughts and feelings.
In his autumn before the winter, Comes Man's last mad surge of youth.
As one ages, they begin to feel the urgency of time running out and strive to experience life to the fullest before it's too late.
Writer(s): Emma Everett Copyright: Hope Music Publishing Limited
Contributed by Isaac L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Krisztina Asztalos
šš too good to be true tunes, memory ON in a heartbeat
Slip through these fingers, melt away
Slip through these fingers, melt away
Slip through these fingers, melt away
Slip through these fingers, melt away
Make me melt away
Slip through these fingers, melt away
These words can be broken, washed away
Slip through these fingers, melt away
Make me melt away
Show you the reason why I have to stay
These words can be broken washed away
Show you the reason why I have to stay
Slip through these fingers, melt away
Make me melt away
'Cause you follow in order to lead
Make me melt away
'Cause you follow in order to lead
Make me melt away
And you feel me with your words
And you fill me with your voice
That's true
I've seen it in your eyes
I've seen it behind your smile
'Cause you follow in order to lead
"In his autumn before the winter,
Comes Man's last mad surge of youth."
Ginger Toland
I have been admiring the structure and accompany vocals of this unique group of talented musicians since the early 90's....still have their artwork on my daily playlist. Definitely one of the most interesting and underrated techs
DeltaFoxTrot
Oh yes, definitely under rated. Some "new" Way Out West songs to listen to. I can't believe I missed this album release, and I am hearing it for the first time. These guys really knew how to make music...this song is just amazing. Loving the vocalist on this. I've missed you Way Out West!
Bunny Lona
To think I have been addicted to Way Out West for 20 yrs now. Ageless music. Original raver for ever.
JustaDude
Florida checkin in
Joo Rogaine
From Tejas....me too
Krisztina Asztalos
šš too good to be true tunes, memory ON in a heartbeat
Slip through these fingers, melt away
Slip through these fingers, melt away
Slip through these fingers, melt away
Slip through these fingers, melt away
Make me melt away
Slip through these fingers, melt away
These words can be broken, washed away
Slip through these fingers, melt away
Make me melt away
Show you the reason why I have to stay
These words can be broken washed away
Show you the reason why I have to stay
Slip through these fingers, melt away
Make me melt away
'Cause you follow in order to lead
Make me melt away
'Cause you follow in order to lead
Make me melt away
And you feel me with your words
And you fill me with your voice
That's true
I've seen it in your eyes
I've seen it behind your smile
'Cause you follow in order to lead
"In his autumn before the winter,
Comes Man's last mad surge of youth."
Bunny Lona
20yrs later and STILL a favorite. Anything they do is beautiful
retiredclubber
great tune...they always have great vocals in there tunes....quite haunting in a good way
Jesse Murphy
Beautiful song. The vocals coming in at 1:20 are sublime
punkymaddie
I freaking love the oc so much I'm obsessed! š I just keep re- watching it. Lol