Ghost Stories (Red House, 2022)

The Whitmore Sisters, seven years apart in age, took different musical paths more than a decade ago. But bassist Bonnie and string master Eleanor finally and inevitably combined forces for "Ghost Stories." Bonnie, the younger sibling, has released four solo albums and backed Hayes Carll, Justin Townes Earle and Jimmie Dale Gilmore. Eleanor has released just one solo album, but is half of The Mastersons (with husband Chris) and a long-term member of Steve Earle's backing band, The Dukes. The pandemic afforded a break in their respective schedules, and Chris Masterson insisted it was finally that time for the two to make a recording.

As the title indirectly suggests, many of these songs relate to lost loves, lost friends and a need for resilience in overcoming them. The sisters wrote 9 of the 11 tracks, with both singing, often harmonizing. Chris Masterson produced and played an amazing arsenal of guitars as well as recruiting Jamie Douglass for drums/percussion and Tyler Chester for an array of keyboards. Eleanor is a multi-instrumentalist, known mostly for her fiddle, but also contributes on piano and other strings.

Their unconventional upbringing of an operatic mother and folk singing/pilot dad play into these songs as well. The aviation streak (both sisters can fly planes) inspires the opening "Learning to Fly" while the operatic "Superficial World of Love" likely nods to mom. "Hurtin' for a Letdown" shows they can have fun with a simple shuffle. Two other more buoyant tunes featuring great vocal harmonies are the covers of Aaron Lee Tasjan's "Big Heart Sick Mind" and the Paul McCartney penned "On the Wings of a Nightingale," written for another sibling duo, The Everly Brothers.

The core of the album though, is the thematic material of people lost at too young an age, unable to conquer demons. The first of these is the Cajun-tinged (with Dirk Powell on accordion) "Ballad of Sissy & Porter" extending to "Friends We Leave Behind" and the closing "Greek Tragedy." Throughout their deep connections are palpable through their unison and harmony singing, the result of which is far more comforting than not. By turns serious and lighthearted, even through the sadness, beauty and hints of optimism emerge.