Cara Dillon

Although this is her debut offering, Cara Dillon sings with a confidence yet fragility way beyond her years. From the Irish traditional lilt on Donald of Glencoe to the gentleness of Craigie Hill, the singer has a very distinct delivery that is greatly enhanced by a sparse arrangement that has an almost ethereal result. There is also an earthy quality to her voice, which is indicative of her traditional Celtic roots. The Lonesome Scenes of Winter is perhaps the highlight of the record, with a simple lullably-like melody about love and foreseeable marriage. Although there are certain areas which are slightly overproduced, the general feeling of purity isn't lost from start to finish. What is very attractive though about the album is how the songs have a lot of empty space within, allowing various instrumentation to come to the fore. The closing and longest track, I Am A Youth That's Inclined To Ramble, is very poignant and bittersweet. If there is a negative or possible hint of filler material, it would be She's Like The Swallow, which seems out of place in the album's tracklisting and much too modern in light of the other songs. Regardless though, the album is hopefully a sign of things to come from a true gem. ~ Jason MacNeil