The McLaughlin sisters from Donegal trade as The Henry Girls. Their trademarks include delicate harmonies and gossamer playing and these qualities are to be found in abundance over the generous selection of 14 tracks on December Moon. There’s a captivating melancholy O Sister, Where Art Thou? vibe to originals such as ‘Sing My Sister Down’ and ‘Sweet Dreams’, the trad ‘Rain And Snow’, and Lhasa de Sela’s ‘Fool’s Gold’. But the style-shifting doesn’t always work. They take Elvis Costello’s slinky ‘Watching The Detectives’, add a French accordion and drain the life out of it; ‘When Will See You Again’ is unconvincing Corrs-lite. They use their instrumental skills sparingly, and thus more effectively, to add subtlety to the harp-driven ‘Aisling’. ‘Moonstruck’ has a cute kora and there’s a rich rootsy Americana flavour underpinning ‘December Moon’ and the poignant ‘Farewell’. At its best this is a very engaging record indeed.
At times one could easily be convinced that the Girls are American born and bred. But we know better.