Signal to Noise

White Willow

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 22, 2006)
• Original Release Date: August 22, 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Laser's Edge
• ASIN: B000GBEWFC
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #142,085 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

White Willow's fifth studio album, 'Signal to Noise', album was recorded at Jailhouse Studios in Denmark, and was mixed and produced by legendary producer Tommy Hansen (Helloween, TNT, Pagan's Mind, Circus Maximus). Cover art is by Killustrations, who al

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb, October 4, 2006

By	P. Schumacher (atlanta, GA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I was a little concerned when I heard White Willow had lost its female vocalist and gotten another.

I am glad to say my fears were unfounded.

Their new female vocalist is wonderful.

And this album is wonderful, too.

I like it even better than their last (Storm Season) because it is not QUITE so far toward the metal end of the spectrum.

They have incorporated SOME metal, but mostly they have reverted to their earlier, and folkier, and more classical (and better) stuff.

Exceptionally wonderful prog rock: melodic, varied, unexpected, beautifully constructed, involving.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Pleased, November 4, 2006

By	IcemanJ (Ohio, USA) - See all my reviews

I've loved White Willow from the first note I heard. And I am proud to say that this album doesn't change that. I didn't like "Storm Season," as much as all the other albums. It explored a little darker and heavier side of the band, which was nice for something different, but the heaviness and more aggressive singing didn't feel natural for the band. I'm glad they didn't go farther into that direction. This album gets away from that a little and revisits their more melodic side, although some aggressiveness still lingering especially in the first track, "Night Surf."

The Instrumentation includes many Keyboards, mellotrons, and mini-moogs as usual, also some woodwinds, and grand piano. Now to be completely honest, I had no idea there was a new vocalist until I saw it mentioned. Trude Eidtang has as wonderful a voice as Sylvia Erichsen, not to mention they sound quite similar.

On every one of their albums there has been at least one song that is especially enchanting, something out of this world, something while listening you wonder just how they possibly came up with something so brilliant. On this album, originally, I believed that song was "Splinters." This is a softer song for the most part, with a slightly heavier chorus; the vocal melodies pierce through the soft keyboard melodies and send chills down your spine.

After a month or so of many listens, "Joyride" seems like the best song here. The title is very fitting, because from the first instant, this is one of the most Joyful tunes I have ever heard. It really is a Joyride. "The Dark Road" is probably my third favorite song, similarly brimming with enormously blissful harmonies, except it is slower paced.

Like I said, I'm very pleased with this album especially after the previous one. If you like White Willow be sure to check out Paatos, Pineforest Crunch, and Anglagard.

5.0 out of 5 stars White Willow - New Vocalist Produces Their Best Yet, June 29, 2008

By	Steven Sly (Kalamazoo, MI United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Another two years went by between releases and a major personnel change took place. Founding vocalist Sylvia Erichsen left the band after the previous album. Considering how much White Willow's sound was associated with Erichsen's unique vocal style her departure would be huge shoes to fill. Fortunately band leader Jacob Holm-Lupo found vocalist Trude Eidtang who fills in admirably and I honestly think that this is the band's best album yet. Eidtang's voice is similar to Erichsen so there is not a major change in the band's sound. The music is not quite as heavy and dark as the last album although things still can still set a somber tone as in the excellent opening track "Night Surf". This album may not be proggy enough for the band's traditional hard core fan base indeed some of the songs even remind me of band's like The Sunday's from back in the early 90's especially on songs like "Joyride". The music is a bit more straight forward, but to my ears it works. Other highlights include the gothic metallic "Ghosts" the prog-ish "Dusk City" and "The Lingering". Really I like every track on this album and think it is the best the band has done so far.