A country womans heart

By Tom Gilmore

When people think of a CD containing the words, A Woman’s Heart, one thinks of Traditional songs, but a new CD with that title by The Benn Sisters contains mostly Country songs, apart from the title track and another track about the birthplace of their father in Co Clare.
While the girls are best known as singers of Country songs, and that is mostly what this CD contains, it is obvious also that the London-born Carrie and Leanne Benn have some Traditional Irish nuances in their voices, as can be heard on the title track in particular. This Traditional influence comes from their father, a native of the musically rich area of Milltown Malbay in Co Clare, where they spent their summer holidays as children, and another song on the album, Lovely old Milltown, is all about that village.
Apart from those two songs most of the others on the set are well-known Country classics, such as Rose of San Antone, Lonestar State of Mind, Truck Drivin’ Woman and Back in Baby’s Arms. There is also a nice duet with Shaun Loughrey, which is titled There Never Was A Time We Didn’t Love and the girls also have a pleasant, if slightly different, version of the Simon and Garfunkel song, The Boxer.
Since moving to Ireland a few years ago the Benn girls have released four albums and a DVD, while they have also been featured as backing vocalists on many albums by other Country singers, mostly in Northern Ireland.
They are competent Country singers but, up to now, much of their success has been confined to Northern Ireland. However, this new album with its slight nod towards the Traditional on two tracks might break new ground for the Benn sisters in the 26 counties as well.