What is "white willow"

n. A species of willow native to Europe and western Asia, (taxlink Salix alba species noshow=1).

n. large willow tree of Eurasia and North Africa having grayish canescent leaves and gray bark [syn: Huntingdon willow, Salix alba]

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

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

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.