Woman of the House (CD - 2005)

Personnel: Heidi Talbot, Karen Matheson, Kate Rusby (vocals); Joanie Madden (whistling, flute, alto flute); Mary Coogan (guitar, banjo, mandolin); Laoise Kelly (harp); Liz Kane, Roisin Dillon (fiddle); Mirella Murray, Sharon Shannon (accordion); Phil Cunningham (piano, keyboards); Donna Long, Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill (piano); Donald Shaw (Wurlitzer organ); Phil Bowler (upright bass); James MacIntosh (drums, percussion); John Joe Kelly (bodhran).

Additional personnel: Donna Long, Eddie Reader (vocals); Liz Kane (fiddle); Ewan Vernal (bass guitar); Donald Shaw, James MacIntosh, Karen Matheson, Kate Rusby, Laoise Kelly, Phil Bowler, Phil Cunningham, Sharon Shannon, Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill, John Joe Kelly.

Audio Mixer: Brian Masterson.

Liner Note Authors: Joanie Madden; Fiona Ritchie.

Recording information: CaVa Studios, Glasgow, Scotland.

Author: Scott Alarik.

Photographer: John J. Francis.

Arranger: Phil Cunningham.

Cherish the Ladies' tenth studio album is reliable without being redundant, soft without seeming slight, and as rollicking as it is sentimental. Joined by a small army of guests that read like Celtic and singer/songwriter royalty (Sharon Shannon/Triona Ni Dhomhnaill/Phil Cunningham/Kate Rusby/Eddi Reader), the Ladies have crafted a beautiful set that harks back to their 1992 debut. The impossibly lovely voice of Heidi Talbot -- it's like standing between Alison Krauss and Kirsty MacColl singing at the same time -- carries each ballad, both traditional ("Green Fields of Canada," "Bogie's Bonnie Belle") and contemporary ("Sweet Thames Flow Softly"), with such effortlessness that it's a wonder she even has to move her mouth, while the band makes high-octane instrumentals like "Jigs: Carolan's Favorite Jig/The Rakes of Cashel/Highland March in Oscar & Malvina" and the ferocious title track sound like the very forces of nature in human form. ~ James Christopher Monger minimize