Hey John. I think I got my sources and reviews confused.

But as for "Breathy "wee girlie" voices" - it set me thinking about the whole business of harmony singing and traditional songs.

Their is a genre of generally male harmony singing in which 3, 4 or more men will sing very tight, almost gutteral harmonies, on shanties and drinking songs and so on and this is taken my some as sort of 'solid trad singing'. I feel sure it must wear their throats out.

Aside from The Copper Family I don't think their is much of a tradition of harmony singing. The Watersons are unique but probably best described as revivalists? They are often described as the most traditional of traditional folk but although many of their songs are clearly traditional what they do with them is mostly their own work.

So, back to "Breathy "wee girlie" voices". Collections of young women and men sing old songs in harmony and play all sorts of instruments. Often the songs are traditional but the arrangemnets and performances, like the Watersons, are their own.

I like most of 'em but everybody simply has to listen and stop when they don't like what they hear?

Best wishes

L in C#