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Everything about Kelly Mulhollan and Donna Stjerna--the duo comprising Still On The Hill--is unique. They have ample talent to back-up their original path. You won't mistake them for any common singer-songwriters. Ozark further separates them from the herd. The 14 original songs on this CD are based on real people and events, with a dash of local folklore, from the area around Fayetteville, their corner of Arkansas in the Ozarks. They listen to the citizenry, and weave their lives and tales into engrossing songs. The titles intrigue as much as the songs themselves. "The Weaning House" relates a tradition of how newly married couples move to a "weaning house" to begin their marriage. Perhaps that's akin to the "starter home" in modern suburbs. "The Mug Tree Lady" tells about a local woman who hangs coffee mugs from a tree in her yard, over 500 so far, and the reasons for the strange landscape. "The Ghost Of The Crescent Hotel" makes you believe in ghosts; you can feel the spirit touching you on the shoulder. "One Good Leg" is a Civil War story about Mulhollan's great, great grandfather. Mulhollan and Stjerna employ harmonies somewhat differently than most duets. They play all the instruments themselves. Mulhollan provides guitar, mandolin, banjo, harmonica, upright bass, homemade percussion and a variety of other acoustic instruments. Stjerna plays fiddle and mountain dulcimer. They don't merely play them; they play them well, creating an incredibly rich, cohesive acoustic sound. It's traditional music meets the 21st Century, while retaining the flavor of tradition. The phrasing and poetry of the songs sweetly tickles the ear, with topics, structure and viewpoint unlike nearly any other contemporary songwriters. They wrap the lyrics in melodies that waft and twist like smoke from a fire. Each song on the CD sounds distinctly different from the next as the tempos and arrangements create completely different moods. It's evident that Mulhollan and Stjerna are fascinated by the stories of their songs and love making music. No one could take the sincerity embodied on this CD. --RWarr
COPYRIGHT 2009 Sing Out Corporation COPYRIGHT 2009 Gale, Cengage Learning
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