Animal Magnetism is the firs
t new music from Norway’s prog heavyweights White Willow since the wonderful Terminal Twilight album in 2011. The single is a cover of a song from German heavy rock band, The Scorpions.
Jacob Holm-Lupo and co have replaced the rock guitar of the original song with pulsating hard synthesizer sequences for the most part. The synths remind me a little of Tangerine Dream and the song serves as a fine tribute to Tangerine Dream’s founding member, Edgar Froese, who passed away in January.
Norwegian singer Venke Knutson makes her White Willow debut on this track, and has slotted in seamlessly straight away. The vocals in White Willow songs are usually very much to the forefront, but for this song, they are heavily treated and sit much deeper in the mix than is usual, which suits the claustrophobic, M83 on acid feel.
Don’t think for a moment that White Willow have watered down the song, it’s still very powerful, and the lyrics are very direct. Sirens and deep bass notes give a feeling of alarm, and the middle section of the song has a wild clarinet solo from David Krakauer.
This feels like a real departure from White Willow – and I can’t wait to hear the new album that’s due later in 2015. The album will apparently be part 1 of a 2 part concept album – so don’t be surprised if the prog returns with a vengeance. Welcome back White Willow.
Listen to a stream of the song below – and if you like it, buy the single on one of the links.
Buy Future Hopes – the new White Willow album, that includes Animal Magnetism on Amazon.
Mr Kinski's Music Shack 
[…] taster of the next White Willow album is due in January 2015, so visit the band’s website and sign-up to their email list if you […]
LikeLike
[…] Magnetism is a CD bonus track, that was released over a year ago now – you can read my review of the standalone release of the song, a cover of The Scorpions track. I loved it then and I still […]
LikeLike