''Intensify'' is the second

studio album An album is a collection of audio recordings (e.g., music) issued on a medium such as compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl (record), audio tape (like 8-track cartridge, 8-track or Cassette tape, cassette), or digital distribution, dig ...

by English

electronic music Electronic music broadly is a group of music genres that employ electronic musical instruments, circuitry-based music technology and software, or general-purpose electronics (such as personal computers) in its creation. It includes both music ...

duo Way Out West, released on 20 August 2001 by Distinct'ive Records. The album was marked by a move from the defunct

Deconstruction Records Deconstruction Records is a British record label founded in 1987 by Pete Hadfield and Keith Blackhurst, together with Mike Pickering of M People. According to '' DJ Magazine'' it is "best remembered for marrying underground credibility and div ...

label to Distinctive, and a change in their sound, from club instrumentals and sampled vocals to a mixture of club tracks and original songs.

Release

On 27 November 2000, Way Out West released the album's first single, "The Fall", through BMG; the former parent company of the group's previous label

(defunct in 1998). "The Fall" peaked at #61 on the UK Singles Chart and was followed by the group's final release on BMG, the ''UB Devoid'' EP. In 2001, the group were signed to Distinct'ive Records, and released the album's second single and title track, "Intensify", shortly before the album's release date, on 6 August 2001. “Distinct'ive” then released ''Intensify'' worldwide on 20 August 2001 to success, with the album peaking at #61 on the

UK Albums Chart The Official Albums Chart is the United Kingdom's industry-recognised national record chart for album, albums. Entries are ranked by sales and audio streaming. It was published for the first time on 22 July 1956 and is compiled every week by the O ...

. In 2002, after the album's release, its third single " Mindcircus" (featuring Tricia Lee Kelshall) was released and, supported by a remix from Gabriel & Dresden, reached number 1 in the

UK Dance Chart The Dance Singles Chart and the Dance Albums Chart are music charts compiled in the United Kingdom by the Official Charts Company from sales of songs in the electronic dance music, dance music genre (e.g. house music, house, trance music, trance, ...

that year. The album's final single, "Stealth" (featuring Kirsty Hawkshaw), was released on 19 August 2002 and reached #67 on the UK Singles Chart that year. The track "Activity" appears on the soundtrack to the 2001

PlayStation 2 The PlayStation 2 (PS2) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Sony Interactive Entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on 4 March 2000, in North America on 26 October, in Europe on 24 Novembe ...

videogame, ''Kinetica''.

Critical reception

Upon release, ''Intensify'' was met with generally positive reviews from critics. Dean Carlson from

Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...

summarised the album as "a glittering, expressive trance record". Christian Hopwood from

BBC Music BBC Music is the arm of the BBC responsible for the music played across its services. The current director of music is Lorna Clarke. Officially it is a part of the BBC's Radio operational division; however, its remit also includes music used i ...

commented that "it might lack the variety of the first album ('' Way Out West'')", although he also praised the album, claiming it has a "wide screen, cinematic feel".

Track listing

Personnel

Way Out West

* Jody Wisternoff - production, keyboards, synths, samples, drum programming * Nick Warren - production, keyboards, engineering, mixing

Additional musicians

Adam Pickard
- drums ("Mindcircus") additional programming ("Call Me", "Stealth") *

Ally Kennen Ally Kennen (born 1975) is a British author of adventure novels for children and teens. Some of her books have been marketed as thrillers and they may be classed as horror fiction. She was born in Somerset and grew up on a farm in the Exmoor r ...

- vocals ("Intensify (Part 01)", "Intensify (Part 02)") *

Imogen Heap Imogen Jennifer Jane Heap ( ; born 9 December 1977) is an English musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, and entrepreneur. She is considered a pioneer in pop music, particularly electropop, and in music technology. While attending the ...

- writing ("Mindcircus") * Tricia Lee Kelshall - vocals ("Mindcircus") * Kirsty Hawkshaw - vocals ("Stealth")

Charts

Release history

References

Way Out West (duo) albums 2001 albums Distinct'ive Records albums {{2000s-electronic-album-stub