Siobhán Longand Jocelyn Clarke review two new releases.
Cara Dillon possesses a heady combo of a sublime voice and visceral writing style (shared with husband Sam Lakeman), and she rises to the occasion with refreshing honesty on this DVD, filmed on the shores of Lough Foyle, Co Donegal. Zoë Conway lends gorgeous fiddle, while If I Prove False, Dillon's duet with John Smith, should chart-top from here to infinity. Dillon's keen ear for a great song is tempered with an even keener appetite to scratch beneath its surface to unearth nuances previously untapped. Extras include photo gallery, a track by track option, and interviews. www.caradillon.co. uk
SIOBHÁN LONG
Warner Music
****
As compilation DVDs go, this is pretty special. Jools Holland's weekly latenight jam session with established and new artists kicking it out to each other and a live audience has proved one of the most consistently interesting music programmes since its 1992 BBC premiere.
The self-deprecating Holland is not only a virtuoso pianist and consummate host but also, at core, an enthusiastic fan who likes hanging out with other musicians. So Later is purely about the music (unlike, say, MTV) and the performance. And, with a dynamic mix of pop, rock and world music, the former Squeeze keyboardist has proved himself something a savvy tastemaker.
This two-DVD treasure trove contains more than 60 live performances by some of the most significant music artists of the past three decades. The many highlights include Tinariwen, The Who, Radiohead, Scott Walker, Al Green, Johnny Cash, and Massive Attack. www.warner music.com
JOCELYN CLARKE
