SACRAMENT

Come 2000 and Holm-Lupo would whip up the musicians for a third White Willow production.Sylvia Erichsen was the only person remaining from the previous album and she was to be surrounded by a fresh core, like unknown keyboardist Brynjar Dambo, who has to fill the shoes of the departing Jan Tariq Rahman, bassist Johannes Saboe, drummer Aage Moltke Schou and flutist Ketil Vestrum Einarsen, future member of Jaga Jazzist, The Opium Cartel and Kaukasus.The album was titled ''Sacrament'', released again on Laser's Edge.

Six rather long pieces with Folk and Classical orientations, offered via the spectrum of progressive music, are what White Willow were best at and ''Sacrament'' continues this extended tradition of electroacoustic soundscapes by the Norwegians, fronted by the charesmatic talents of Homo-Lupo.It's something that should be called actually like Rural Scandinavian Winter Prog, as the music contains soundimages from the Scandinavian countries along with a wide range of different emotions depending on the piece, mostly the melancholic nuances of the North-European lands.But the ethereal, childish voice of Ketil Vestrum Einarsen make her sound like a fairy in a world of woods.''Sacrament'' is above all a deeply symphonic album, speaking about the way the compositions are arranged, even if the Folk inspirations are more than evident.The tracks are full of Mellotron, light organ parts, carefully used synthesizers and pianos, featuring also domestic sounds coming out of Einarsen's flute with Holm-Lupo being responible basically for the electroacoustic moves on guitar.Once you will get used to the sweet themes of the flute, piano and acoustic guitars, a little explosion will transform you into the electric world of White Willow with the impressive interplays and the monster symphonic lines of the Mellotron and Hammond organ, delivering a grandiose atmosphere reminiscent of ANGLAGARD and MARCO ANTONIO ARAUJO.Beautiful music indeed with a couple of stunning pieces like ''Anamnesis'' and ''The reach''.

Another solid album by White Willow, the band deserves every penny if you buy the album.Dark Symphonic Rock with an acoustic background, flavored by a nice female singer.Strongly recommended...3.5 stars.