Cassie and Maggie MacDonald, siblings from Nova Scotia, Canada, know how to vocalize in powerfully affecting ways. Individually, the sisters’ voices are enchanting. Together, harmonizing, there’s a passionate perfection. Their singing is wonderfully willowy. The willow tree, a symbol of deep emotion, including grief, in many musical traditions, serves a connective thread on this remarkable album. It recurs in Celtic lore. And Celtic music is at the core of the MacDonalds’ exhilarating sound. The duo also draws from folk, country and bluegrass. Their fresh and engaging renditions of traditional songs include “Hangman,” “Let No Man Steal Your Thyme,” “Blue Willow” and the vibrant “Nobleman’s Wedding” and the dainty “Down in the Willow Garden.” They’re lovely and lively. The sisters penned the sweet and soothing “Willow Lullaby.” And there’s a touching tenderness to the final number, “Turn Me Gentle When I’m Dying.” The MacDonalds also display skill and energy on their instruments - Cassie on fiddle, Maggie on guitar and piano. They utilize foot percussion, as well. The MacDonalds put every ounce of their beings into their music.