Cara Dillon - Wanderer

The Guardian 80

(Charcoal)

Having lived much of her life away from her native Derry, Cara Dillon identifies with the “songs of departure and longing for home” that make up her seventh album. There are a pair of notable originals, but traditional ballads dominate; some, like Blackwater Side well known, others, like The Tern and the Swallow, particular to her homeland. Dillon’s charm lies in both her crystalline, melodic voice and the unusual fluency she brings to antique material – even lines such as “She appeared like great Juno, the fair Grecian queen”. Producer (and husband) Sam Lakeman supplies spare piano and guitar accompaniments, and Kris Drever duets on Sailor Boy. Gorgeous stuff.