Hailing from Malin, Co. Donegal, the Henry Girls are not Henrys at all, but rather McLaughlins – Lorna on vocals, accordion, tin whistle and bodhrán; Karen on vocals, fiddle and piano; and Joleen on vocals, harp and piano. Lead singer Lorna McLaughlin has a confidence and a natural warmth to her singing that are rare to find in combination, while the other two sisters contribute the kind of close harmonies that only family groups seem to be able to manufacture (and Karen does a fine job of taking over the lead on the energetic ‘James Monroe’, co-authored by the three, and ‘After The Night Before’). Produced by Máire Breatnach, their debut CD blends original songs with traditional Irish, Scottish and (oddly enough) Javanese material, all performed with aplomb – particularly impressive when one learns that the entire thing was recorded in just five days.