White Willow (band)
| White Willow | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Norway |
| Genres | Art rock |
| Members |
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White Willow is a Norwegian art rock band, mixing elements of orchestral pop, 70's progressive rock, jazz-rock and even electronic elements. They have released 6 albums so far: 1995's Ignis Fatuus, which features symphonic folk rock in the vein of early King Crimson and Genesis as well as Mellow Candle; 1998's Ex Tenebris, which is minimalist prog/post-rock; 2000's Sacrament, a full-blown symphonic rock/pop release; 2004's Storm Season, the band's best-selling record to date,[1] mixing darker, more guitar-heavy elements into their sound, and their fifth studio album, Signal to Noise, which was released in August 2006. Their new album Terminal Twilight was released on October 17, 2011.[2] "Terminal Twilight" was well received by critics. Horror/rock website Bloody Disgusting wrote: "Stunningly beautiful, almost heart achingly so, Terminal Twilight unfolds and reveals itself like a painting that shows more and more with each viewing".[3] Allmusic.com called the album "a tour de force in inventive art rock".[4] MSN Music called it "a gorgeous, haunting album".[5] "Terminal Twilight" was also voted best produced album of 2011 by the readers of prog blog Progulator.[6]
White Willow's influences range from 10cc, The Beach Boys, Big Star and Steely Dan to King Crimson, Magma, Weather Report and even Nick Drake and Joni Mitchell.[7] They have been hailed by The Billboard Guide to Progressive Music as "one of the most significant progressive groups of the current era".[8] Typical of their sound is the prominence of female vocals, flute and mellotrons and analog synthesizers.
Many guest artists have appeared on White Willow's albums. They include Norwegian singer/songwriter Finn Coren,[9] British art-pop vocalist Tim Bowness,[10] and US avant-rock guitarist Michael S. Judge.[11] The band released 2011 her album Terminal Twilight, which featured the cover Animal Magnetism from the German band Scorpions.[12]
White Willow also has the interesting distinction of being the only progressive rock artist to require a warning label for the sub bass produced on the song Paper Moon. This led to many bass music enthusiasts mistakenly buying the album.
Band members
Current band members
- Sylvia Erichsen - vocals
- Lars Fredrik Frøislie - keyboards
- Ketil Einarsen - flutes
- Jacob Holm-Lupo - guitars
- Ellen Andrea Wang - bass
- Mattias Olsson - drums
Former band members
- Trude Eidtang - vocals
- Marthe Berger Walthinsen - bass
- Aage Moltke Schou - drums
- Erik Holm - drums
- Danny Young - drums
- Alexander Engebretsen - bass
- Per Christian Stenberg - bass
- Eldrid Johansen - vocals
- Sara Trondal - vocals
- Tirill Mohn - violin
- Audun Kjus - flute and vocals
- Jan Tariq Rahman - keyboards, bass, woodwinds and vocals (founding member)
Discography
- Ignis Fatuus (1995, The Laser's Edge)
- Ex Tenebris (1998, The Laser's Edge)
- Sacrament (2000, The Laser's Edge)
- Storm Season (2004, The Laser's Edge; Japanese version released through Avalon/Marquee)
- Signal to Noise (2006, The Laser's Edge)
- Terminal Twilight (2011, Termo Records)
References
- ↑ Gibraltar Encyclopedia of Progressive Rock, Retrieved 16.05.12.
- ↑ "White Willow website". Retrieved 2011-07-22.
- ↑ Bloody Disgusting, Retrieved 16.05.12.
- ↑ Allmusic.com, Retrieved 16.05.12.
- ↑ MSN Music, Retrieved 16.05.12.
- ↑ Progulator, Retrieved 16.05.11.
- ↑ Bill's Prog Blog Interview with J. Holm-Lupo, Retrieved 16.05.12.
- ↑ "DPRP CD Reviews - 2000 - Volume 33". www.dprp.net. Retrieved 2009-11-10.
- ↑ Groove.no, Retrieved 16.05.12.
- ↑ Tim Bowness Diary, Retrieved 16.05.12.
- ↑ Rocktopia, Retrieved 16.05.12.
- ↑ White Willow Release Fantastic Cover Of The Scorpions’ “Animal Magnetism”
External links
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