Soon after they formed, the highly charged "freakout" style of the group's early live shows quickly established their reputation as ones to watch. Using a uniquely diverse arsenal of instruments (including analog synthesizers, autoharp, flute, drums, gongs, bells, chains, etc.), they attempted to develop a radically new and fluid sound, and to this end decided on an open-ended invitation to other like minded musicians to join them both live and on record.
The first of their albums, Red Shift, came out in 1998 on Sonic Youth frontman Thurston Moore's Ecstatic Peace! label. Moore has collaborated with the band in the live arena and been a long-time supporter. Red Shift was a collaboration with David Nuss, long time member of experimental New York group No-Neck Blues Band. It was described as "son-of-a-Bitches Brew" in a complimentary review in Alternative Press.
Their second album, Drunken Little Mass, came out in 2000 also on Ecstatic Peace!, and featured another renowned collaborator in the shape of Grammy Award winning rock renaissance man Jim O'Rourke. This time their work was described by XLR8R as "an improvised intergalactic escapade into the nether regions of the universe... a universe of chaos, tension and beauty."
2005 saw a move to London based ATP Recordings for a third full length release, China Is Near, their most acclaimed set to date. O'Rourke returned for this release, and was joined by virtuoso percussionist and frequent John Zorn collaborator William Winant. One review stated, "China speaks in an alien tongue that nonetheless conveys wonder and horror in equal measure... any discussion of truly adventurous music today must include White Out", and another "Noise as a genre is a bit too reductive and Improv too paradoxically pedantic to describe what's truly going on here, but aficionados of either of those scenes will find more than enough to love." Pitchfork Media gave it a 7.5 rating and noted the "astonishing variety of percussive textures" whilst also praising the album's "molten, form-shifting splendor."
Other comrades in instrumental arms over the years have included ex-Minuteman Mike Watt, acclaimed multi-instrumentalist and current Wilco member Nels Cline, and DJ Olive. White Out has performed at the All Tomorrow's Parties Festival (in America in 2002 and the UK in 2007), the No Fun Fest, Spy Music Festival, Rhythm in the Kitchen Festival, CMJ, and SKIF II Festivals. They were also guests of the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble and have gigged from coast to coast and in Europe.
White Out’s latest release is entitled Asphalt And Delay, on the Belgian audioMER label, which marks the band’s first full length album foray in to the exploration of duo improvisation.
No Time
White Out Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Life won't wait and I'll earn my fate
My time's now, I need to go
Nothing going to come my way if I sit here and wait
Nothing going to come my way if I sit here and wait
No time no time to sit back and relax
To much to do to sit back and relax
To much to do to sit back and relax
Traveled miles of road in a box with four wheels
No plans just a load of will to see me through
Nothing going to come my way if I sit here and wait
Nothing going to come my way if I sit here and wait
No time no time to sit back and relax
To much to do to sit back and relax
No time no time to sit back and relax
To much to do to sit back and relax
The lyrics to White Out's song "No Time" speak to the notion of seizing the moment and taking control of your own destiny. The singer acknowledges that they need to work to make money, but they also recognize that life is too short to simply wait for things to happen to them. They understand that they must take action in order to achieve their goals and make something of themselves. The repeated refrain of "No time no time to sit back and relax / Too much to do to sit back and relax" reinforces this idea and serves as a motivational call to arms for the listener.
Beyond the message of the song itself, the lyrics also conjure up vivid images of travel and determination. The reference to a "box with four wheels" suggests a car or truck, and the lines about "traveled miles of road" and having "no plans" evoke a sense of adventure and spontaneity. The notion of relying on sheer willpower to see one through difficult times further underscores the idea of taking control of one's life and pursuing one's dreams.
Overall, "No Time" is a driving, energetic anthem that encourages listeners to make the most of their time and recognize the power they have to shape their own futures.
Line by Line Meaning
My job's calling me and I sure need the dough
I need to answer the call of my job because I need to earn money
Life won't wait and I'll earn my fate
I need to act now in my life to determine my destiny
My time's now, I need to go
The time has come for me to take action and move forward
Nothing going to come my way if I sit here and wait
I cannot expect success to come to me if I am inactive
No time no time to sit back and relax
I have a lot of work to do and cannot afford to be idle
To much to do to sit back and relax
There are too many tasks and responsibilities for me to take it easy
Traveled miles of road in a box with four wheels
I have traveled many miles by car and faced challenges along the way
No plans just a load of will to see me through
I have no specific plans but a strong determination to overcome obstacles
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: WILLIAM JONES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@goshimizu4623
No time to think for tomorrow
I got to live for today
Got no time to think at all
I just wanted to say
Turnin' on to sweet emotion
Let each day go with the notion
And my passions so revealin'
I can't stop I love freewheelin'
I got no time to think for tomorrow
I got to live for today
Got no time to think at all
I just wanted to say
All for love I'm all for giving
I'm devoted to the living
And it gets me so excited
I can't help it I can't fight it
Never want to know what I got in store
What would my time mean to me
If tomorrow never comes I'll be the day before
And you won't forget me
Don't forget me get this
Hey hey hey
Lift me up and take me too far
Never let it get familiar
Yes in that I can believe now
Getting' up I'm getting' right now
I'm alright now
No time to think for tomorrow
I got to live for today
Got no time to think at all
I just wanted to say
No time to think for tomorrow
I got to live for today
Got no time to think at all
I just wanted to say
No time to think for tomorrow
I got to live for today
Got no time to think at all
I just wanted to say
@houmm08
Should have been so, so much bigger. Bite it is an unbelievably accomplished album considering their ages at the time. Really good young musicians producing an album with a great classic feel that will never date. Pretty soulful too
@mrpleasurehead
I was assistant engineer on their recordings. I got on great with them because they were absolutely sound. I was also their drum tech for a tour that ended at Phoenix Festival. Fond memories of getting blotto with them and nicking a shopping Trolley to push eachother around Windsor. Good times 😅
@andyroberts6202
Played the album to death. Class.
@garyhellawell4312
This is everything Oasis wasn' t.....new original alive and energetic 😀 One of life's great mysteries will forever remain.... HOW THE FUCK DIDN'T WHITEOUT MAKE IT 😤😯😢
@jl45000019
maybe because whiteout are bland and boring
@MrGiorgioud
Wow you really are the music expert. Oasis are as enticing as cold vomit....
@utrapzab
Broke at the same time as oasis, went to see them support oasis edinburgh early 94, i thought these were better
@MrGiorgioud
They were. By a large mile, no doubt.
@JohnSmith-su3ze
Better than Oasis? haha are you high?
@remiga
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