Star Is Just a Sun

Personnel: Ola Flottum (vocals, guitar, mandolin, violin, recorder, piano, Mellotron, keyboards, metallophone); Lotte Halstensen (vocals); Ulf Rogde, Frode Loes Arnesen, Ingar Hunskaar (keyboards); Hans Christian Almendingen (drums, percussion).
Audio Mixer: Helge Sten.
Recording information: Studiola.
Photographer: Ola Flottum.
Star Is Just a Sun creates an enveloping mood of whispered romantic drama, with an aching atmosphere that strongly recalls Mark Hollis' solo record. Endless soft layers of warm keyboard and organ sounds and reverbed guitar cradle each song. A heartbeat-like pulse comes to the forefront in "Love Is So Real," and continues into "Beauty King," the only tune with a driving drumbeat. Singer and multi-instrumentalist Ola Flottum occasionally sings falsetto, but always sings softly, enhancing the keen sense of intimacy that the White Birch create so beautifully, while leaving attention to the poetic (and English) lyrics optional for listeners. ~ Joslyn Layne