When it comes to electronic music, Bristol's history stands taller than most. Think back to the reggae/hip-hop soundsystems sound of Smith & Mighty and Full Cycle’s drum & bass legacy, right through to today’s bass/ house innovation from Julio Bashmore, Eats Everything et al.
Born and bred in the city, Jody Wisternoff 's 25-year musical journey has had connections to just about every aspect in one way or another and every last influence – both classic and contemporary - seeps into his refreshing debut artist album “Trails We Blaze”.
But while so many veterans lose their lust for musical discoveries, Wisternoff remains more inspired by new sounds than ever before. As anyone that listens to his monthly Intensified podcasts will know, the Bristolian's finger remains firmly on the pulse of all that is classy and cutting-edge in electronic music.
Blending elements of house, nu disco, progressive, techno and bass, the upbeat “Trails We Blaze” condenses Jody’s personal journey through music into 12 diverse electronic grooves; referencing his classic and contemporary musical loves.
Representing Jody’s modern take on Balearic grooves, tracks like the “How You Make Me Smile” (feat. Pete Josef) and the nu-disco influenced “Just One More” are both soulful and sophisticated; perfect for balmy summer nights.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s75Y-WcAyvA&w=560&h=315]
Filmed in a central London flat, the video focuses of the two lead characters going about their daily relationship; and the many joys that they inspire in each other.
The album isn't without its darker shades, though. Harking back to his years lost in Bristol bass bins, the hypnotic techno groover “95” and the hip-hop indebted “Red Stripes” both reference Jody's love of vintage jungle, while reworks of the Pete Tong-endorsed “Starstrings" and the Beatport number 1 “Cold Drink, Hot Girl” update two of his most classic solo tracks.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXNHBevtev0&w=420&h=315]
Jody Wisternoff is best known as one half of the Bristol progressive house duo Way Out West and as a producer of dance music spanning early 90s hardcore to electro house.
His first break came in the late 1980's as one half of Tru Funk Posse (with his brother Sam) when Bristol producers Smith & Mighty opened up their studio to them. Their tracks were playlisted by DJ Tim Westwood and the brothers appeared in magazine The Face.
In the early 90s Wisternoff DJed at clubs such as Universe and Fantasia and produced tracks with DJ Die (now of Reprazent fame) under the name Sub Love, along with singer & song writer Sue Brice aka Coco Star vocalist of Fragma's Toca's Miracle.
However Wisternoff met with fellow DJ Nick Warren in a Bristol record shop which saw the birth of the progressive house act Way Out West. Fusing the dub sounds of Bristol with club beats the duo saw the peak of their success in the mid to late 90s with tracks like "The Gift" and "Ajare".
In the mid to late 90s Wisternoff was a resident DJ at Temptation, a leading Friday night techno and jungle club night at Bristol's Lakota nightclub, which was promoted by Bristol based producer Leon Alexander of Hope Recordings. In 1997 Jody released his first mix album "The Silver Planet Collection Volume 1" followed by the well received "Way Out There - A Progressive DJ Mix" in 2001.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pO2na6xviGI&w=420&h=315]
