Woman of the House

AMG Review of Woman of the House

James Christopher Monger
All Music Guide

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 allad, both raditional ("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.