Now she's back with her solo album, Before Sins. And After - a wonderful blend of celtic folk and contemporary rock.

Opening song Crean sets the scene with its bewitching, lilting groove proving the perfect backing for Julie's smoky, Stevie Nicks-esque vocals.

Although the music is grounded in celtic mystery, it transcends that folky boundary. There's a catch in Julie's voice that brings to mind the likes of Patti Smith rather than Joan Baez.

As well as the skilful musicianship (including Julie's husband Simon and Marti Willson-Piper of Aussie gods The Church), the other great standout is Penzance-based studio bod Dare Mason's exquisite production - crystal clear, allowing Julie's songs space to breathe.

Highlights include the driving, no pun intended, angry BMW, Back Again which recalls Hazel O'Connor's Will You and Charcoal, the sound of Tori Amos as covered by The Corrs.

This is raw, emotional stuff Alanis Morissette for grown-ups, if you will. At the heart of the songs is Julie's amazing voice - vulnerable one second, powerful and foreceful the next. It's an instrument in its own right.

The album's centre-piece is Ev a'm asas, a Cornish language piece which sees Julie singing and playing guitar, djembe, whistle and accordion. It's as exotic as anything by Les Voix de Bulgares - and then it goes all unexpectedly rave-mongous. Trance-folk, has she invented a new genre?

The album ends on a high with the thrilling Rainbow of Love and its upbeat chorus of "the happiest time of my life is now".

By the way, Julie appears on Face of Britain on Channel 4 on Saturday, April 21, at 8pm. She was filmed singing album track Hunrosow acoustically and is interviewed about how it feels to be Cornish - all filmed in the Godolphin Arms, Marazion, and featuring many locals who happened to be in for a pint!