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Track Listing: Rated: Total Play Time:  |
White willow is one of the few bands that Norway can seriously lay
claim to and not be the least
bit embarrased or squemish; after all, such a beautiful country blessed
with picturesque mountains
and fjords will forever be marred by the events of 1992-93 that need
not be revisited here. Aside
from 3rd and the Mortal there is no real "folk/bluesy/metal" outfit
that really grabbed my attention
and made me immediately want to seek out more, but White willow is a
fine addition to my ever-growing
library of fine music.
The band started out way back in those lost mid-90s as more of a
folk/rock outfit by maninman/guitarist
Jacob Holm-Lupo, but has since landed itself the welcomed label as
Norway's prominent "Prog" band,
joining Anglagard and Anekdoten as leading exponents of the prog sound
emantating from Scandinavia. If
the prog comnmunity needs a kick in the ass to get more people digging
it White Willow is the band to
help the cause! A stellar production from Tommy Hansen (Pagan's Mind,
Helloween, TNT) gives the listener
a warm sound that fills the room and is by no means boring or trite.
The time changes, solid arrangments
and rich vocals give off the feeling of old 70s prog sound with an
updated twist that is simply amazing
to behold. White Willow would appeal to casual prog fans as well as
hardcore freaks, not to mention
Within Temptation, 3rd and the Mortal and Evanesence fans alike. While
I wouldn't say they would make
the Top 40 here in America (to the band's credit) they would appeal to
fans looking for music with
substance and atmosphere.
Tracks like "Night Surf", "The Lingering" and "Joyride" showcase the
vocal talents of newcomer Trude Eidtang,
who, to my ears, has elements of a Sharon den Adel-meets-Tori Amos
style mixed with some Leigh Nash (Sixpence
None the Richer) and Amy Lee (Evanesence), but by no means does the
relegate Eidtang to mere pop styling or
gothic temperature. She has a sweet, even flow to her voice that is not
overpowering or stale at all. She does
not attempt to overpower the songs; rather, she adds power to already
strong sounds and should be heard by all
fans of prog music. When you hear the term "serene" tagged to so many
of these female vocalists these days
it becomes an over-used label that is as much cliched as it is tired.
Believe me when I say Trude Eidtang is
neither of those...she's damn impressive!
Showcasing the intricate instrumental talents of the band are the
tracks "Ghosts" and "Chrome Dawn", while
"Dusk City" sounds like a 70s piece that is refreshing to hear finally
done correctly! Trude Eidtang shifts
from powerful, soulful belting of "Nothing stands in my way" then
completely transplants herself back into
a Mary MacGregor-esque vocal (look up her name - you'll find the song
she's famous for singing).
Musically White Willow holds its own with bands from the aformentioned
genres of prog, goth, metal, rock, fans
of woodwind arrangments, classical, etc. Honestly, there's something
here for anyone interested in moving tunes that
don't have to rely on stagnant lyrics with silly overused verses and
boring three-chord "riffs" from MTV's
ever-slanted viewing audience. Substance and melody are severely
lacking in today's music, but not here!
It's great to see a band take such pride in itself to arrange and
perfect its music before releasing it.
"Signal to Noise" is the band's fifth album and hosts yet another new
lineup in Eidtang on vocals, Holm-Lupo
holding court on guitars, Ketil Vestrum Einarsen handling amazing
woodwinds, Marthe Berger Walthinsen playing
bass and Aage Moltke Schou doing drums and percussion. Each release saw
an ever-changing lineup but maybe
this current assembly will stick around a while and put out more
brilliant albums like Signal to Noise.
Take the journey and follow them into the deep well that is Norway's
elite! For me, this is the perfect CD
to relax and think with - give them a listen! |
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