Using five-string banjo, mountain dulcimer, and DADGAD-tuned guitar, Julie Henigan injects a good deal of Appalachian spirit into songs of mostly British and Celtic origin, as well as a few originals. Utilizing a versatile singing voice that falls somewhere between Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell, and Natalie Merchant, Henigan adds an element of mystery to tracks like the eerie mountain dulcimer tune "The Cowboy's Girl" and the haunting title track. A massive talent, Henigan's intricate performances on five-string banjo, as on the original instrumental "Hanover," and on guitar, as in the DADGAD-tuned "Hoban's Hill," show an impressive level of accomplishment. The ghostly victim's lament in "The Hare's Dream" and the picturesque "Green Grows the Laurel" reveal a depth found all too lacking in most contemporary folk. The Irish Gaelic "Thug Me Ruide," sung in sean-nos style, is further proof of Henigan's diverse talents. In short, American Stranger is the type of authentic traditional folk album that just isn't made all too often anymore and warrants much more than a passing listen.
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