Cara Dillon

Now being re-released on their very own Charcoal Records 10 years after its original release on Rough Trade in July 2001. Cara Dillon's eponymous debut album was recorded immediately after Dillon and partner Sam Lakeman ended their relationship with the Blanco-Y-Negro record label on Warners. Having reached a creative dead end during their time with Warners and becoming disillusioned with the industry, Cara and Sam felt this was their last chance to do anything worthwhile before giving up on their dreams of performing and recording music professionally. Their answer was to relocate from London to Sam's parents house on Dartmoor in Devon and record a collection of 9 traditional and 2 original songs that would, ironically, end up earning them incredible critical and commercial success and lead to them touring the world over. Upon finishing the recording sessions their manager, Geoff Travis, was moved to release the album on his label, Rough Trade Records. It was the first ever folk release on the ber cool label, a long established haven to alternative indie artists like The Smiths, Arcade Fire, The Strokes, and the The Libertines. The critical response was both justified and far-reaching and almost everyone focused on two major ingredients. The first was Cara's revered angelic voice, incapable of singing a duff note and expressing emotion way beyond her years, and the other was the sensitive and fresh interpretations of tired old folk songs which placed them firmly in the 21st century while still paying homage to their traditional routes. After its release the album went on to win many International awards including the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards for "Best Newcomer" and "Best Traditional Song" for "Black Is The Colour" and The Hotpress Award for "Best Roots Act' and Big Buzz's "Best Traditional Act".