SIGNAL TO NOISE

WHITE WILLOW have a new singer for this release, as well they have changed their sound to a more modern, accessible flavour. I think the results on both counts are average at best. I much prefer Sylvia's vocals as Trude comes across as a little too sweet. I can live with that though, it's their music that just does little for me.They absolutely lost me on this one.

"Night Surf" is a mid-paced tune dominated by vocals and drums. Mellotron and flute after 1 1/2 minutes. The tempo picks up 3 minutes in with a full sound. "Splinters" sounds better as the guitar plays a line over and over as drums pound. It settles down 1 1/2 minutes in as vocals arrive. Heavy drums come and go. The heavy riffs don't really suit the vocals after 3 1/2 minutes. The intro guitar is back before 7 minutes. Good tune. "Ghosts" is an instrumental and probably my favourite. I really like the guitar and overall heavy sound. Some chunky bass 5 minutes in. "Joyride" is too poppy really although it does get better after 3 minutes.

"The Lingering" is a ballad that makes me cringe at times. "The Dark Road" is led by vocals and acoustic guitar with the highlight being the majestic mellotron that flows in around the 2 minute mark. "Chrome Dawn" is another instrumental. It's not as good as the first one as it is hit and miss. The guitar, drums, bass and mellotron sound great early, but the synths that come in are annoying. "Dusk City" is good as vocals and pounding drums are augmented by synth washes. Mellotron after 3 1/2 minutes as the sound to follow gets heavier. "Ararat" is a short instrumental of guitar and atmosphere.

2.5 stars rounded up to 3 stars.This is very disappointing for me as the two albums prior to this one "Sacrement" and "Storm Season" were both excellent recordings. Both Prog Archives and another ratings site rate this one and "Ex Tenebris" as the least popular WHITE WILLOW records, and I agree completely.