''Intensify'' is the second studio album by English

electronic music Electronic music is a genre of music that employs electronic musical instruments, digital instruments, or circuitry-based music technology in its creation. It includes both music made using electronic and electromechanical means (electroac ...

duo Way Out West, released on 20 August 2001 by

Distinct'ive Records Distinctive Records (formerly Distinct'ive Records) is a UK based record label founded in 1995. The label has hundreds of releases from artists, most notably Hybrid, Way Out West, and Ils. History Distinctive Records was initially founded ...

. 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 diver ...

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

, 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. 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 Gabriel & Dresden is an American electronic music duo comprising Josh Gabriel and Dave Dresden, formed in San Francisco, California. They collaborated from 2001 to 2008, then again from 2011 to the present. During that time, they have created n ...

, reached number 1 in the UK Dance Chart 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 Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on 4 March 2000, in North America on 26 October 2000, in Europe on 24 November 2000, and in Australia o ...

videogame, ''Kinetica''.

Critical reception

Upon release, ''Intensify'' was met with generally positive reviews from critics. Dean Carlson from Allmusic summarised the album as "a glittering, expressive trance record". Christian Hopwood from

BBC Music BBC Music is responsible for the music played across the BBC. The current director of music is Bob Shennan, who is also the controller of BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 6 Music, and the BBC Asian Network. Officially it is a part of the BBC's Radio op ...

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

Jody Wisternoff Joseph Wisternoff (born 25 November 1973) is an English electronic music producer and DJ. He is best known as one half of the electronic music duo Way Out West, and also as a solo producer of dance music spanning early 1990s hardcore to deep ...

- production, keyboards, synths, samples, programming *

Nick Warren Nicholas John Warren (born 24 October 1968) is an English DJ and record producer. He is best known as a member of the electronic music duo Way Out West, his record label and global live events brand, The Soundgarden, and for his albums release ...

- production, engineering, mixing
Adam Pickard
- drums ("Mindcircus", "Intensify (Part 01)", "Intensify (Part 02)") 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 - 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