Cara Dillon is young, and she has the voice of an angel. She has an obvious appreciation for pop music, but an abiding love for her Irish traditions. And this, her self-titled debut album, blends both in a winning package.

Most of the songs on Cara's first CD are traditional pieces, arranged by Cara and producer Sam Lakeman to appeal to an audience with a love for Irish traditional ballads and modern pop.

Now 27, Cara won the All Ireland Singing Trophy at age 14 and spent time with the Irish band Oige. Probably best known for her tenure with the British supergroup Equation (where she first began working with Lakeman), she has also worked with Phil Coulter and Mike Oldfield, and has turned down a slot with the Irish band De Dannan.

Cara provides the stirring vocals for this album. She and Lakeman (piano, harmonium and organ) also co-arranged the majority of the tunes and co-wrote the original songs "I Wish I Was" and "Blue Mountain River." Others in the band are Justin Adams (electric guitar), Mary Dillon (backing vocals), Seth Lakeman (violin, viola, tenor guitar), Ben Nicholls (electric and upright bass), Roy Dodds (drums, percussion) and Luke Daniels (button accordion).

With vocals this delightfully vivid, I can only hope Cara continues to explore her traditional roots with an ear for modern arrangements. If the universe is just, Cara Dillon is only the first of many marks this young singer will make on the music industry.

[ by Tom Knapp ]
Rambles: 29 June 2002

[ visit the artist's website ]