Cara Dillon – Cara Dillon (Vinyl)

Cara Dillon, one of Ireland’s leading folk artists, has announced the release of a limited edition of her debut album on vinyl for the first time. The release marks the 20th anniversary of the self-titled album, which was originally released on legendary indie label Rough Trade Records to widespread critical acclaim in July 2001.The album was recorded immediately after Dillon and partner Sam Lakeman decided to end their relationship with Warner Music. Having reached a creative dead-end during their time under contract with the major label and becoming disillusioned with their place in the industry, Cara and Sam felt a need to return to their roots and make an album they could wholeheartedly believe in without interference.

After four years of writing and recording sessions with countless pop and rock producers and songwriters convened by the record label who had their eyes set on a commercial breakthrough they decided that the answer was to relocate from London to Sam’s parents’ house on Dartmoor in Devon and record a collection of nine traditional and two original songs that would, ironically, end up earning them incredible critical and commercial success and lead to them touring throughout the world.

Although a simple self-release was originally the plan, upon finishing the recording sessions in late 2000 their manager Geoff Travis was moved to release the album on his own label, Rough Trade Records, a long-established haven to alternative indie artists such as The Smiths, Arcade Fire, The Strokes, and The Libertines.

The critical response was both justified and far-reaching, with Dillon gaining four nominations at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2002, and winning the Horizon Award and Best Traditional Track (for ‘Black is the Colour’). That same year, Cara also won the Best Roots Act at the Hot Press Awards in Ireland and performed at the star-studded awards ceremony in the company of U2, Radiohead, The Corrs and Ash.

Finding itself firmly placed alongside other classic recordings in the UK and Irish folk scene, the album enjoyed a far wider reach than was usual within the genre, partly due to Cara and Sam’s fresh and original take on traditional songs combined with their honest and emotive performances, but also partly due to the album’s release on Rough Trade, which brought their music to a whole new audience.