White Willow (band)

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".^[1] Allmusic.com called the album "a tour de force in inventive art rock".^[1] MSN Music called it "a gorgeous, haunting album".^[1] "Terminal Twilight" was also voted best produced album of 2011 by the readers of prog blog Progulator.^[1]

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.^[1] They have been hailed by The Billboard Guide to Progressive Music as "one of the most significant progressive groups of the current era".^[3] 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,^[1] British art-pop vocalist Tim Bowness,^[1] and US avant-rock guitarist Michael S. Judge.^[1] The band released 2011 her album Terminal Twilight, which featured the cover Animal Magnetism from the German band Scorpions.^[4]

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