Considered one of the most beautiful sounds in the history of popular music, the voice of MARIE BRENNAN reached millions with her work with Celtic pioneers Clannad. Now the singer is back with a stunning gospel album. Mike Rimmer reports.

'Perfect Time' continues that sound so lovers of Clannad are destined to love the lush vocals and floating instrumental sounds that make up the body of the album. Yet this is a landmark for Maire because lyrically she is writing songs that are strongly Christian. I ask her to share some more about the vision behind the album. Responds Maire, "It's something very much that I've been led into and on the way of doing this album lots of doors were opened to do it. I didn't mean to do a Christian album you know. I didn't feel I needed to do it to get closer to God, but I felt that it was the right time for me to do something. It was presented to me in such a way that a bell went off and I thought, 'Okay, do it. It's the right time.' It's very hard to explain, it's just that things seemed to fit and I had something to say about it."

I wonder what the difference was between recording 'Perfect Time' and the last solo album that Maire released. She replies, "Well, this was a pleasure because while doing the research and everything, all the different things that I was reading were very much in tune with knowing God's work. When I was doing my other albums, I would have asked God to be with me and to help me in words and music so that would have been the same because I know that he's with me in everything I do. But it was just a pleasure because there were words put on my heart and I wasn't afraid of anything during this album. I knew things would turn out right; things just seemed to go right all the time for it. Hence the title of the album is 'Perfect Time'."

Maire's spent a day telling journalists like myself all about the record. Before my time comes to an end I have the opportunity to find out whether she would consider putting together a live show that reflects her faith and doing some concerts to support the album. At present she is undecided. "I suppose it's another thing for me to think about. I've done this album, it's released and I do probably have to review my situation and as yet I wouldn't be able to say to you yes or no but I would pray about it and I have so I would say that I will be doing something definitely. What I don't know is if it's this year or not. I'm going to be doing another Christian album this year for the four-album deal that I did. Maybe because it's only one album, with 10 songs, to go out on tour with 10 songs is not enough to play. I wouldn't be nervous about whether I had to do it or not." She laughs as she thinks about it. "I don't have a band as such but I don't think I would have too much of a problem getting it sorted if it's the right thing."

Having chatted for a while, one thing I have picked up is the sensitive way in which Maire presents her faith. Would that be a characteristic that would underpin any future live presentations of her Christian music? Maire is straightforward in her honesty, "I'm not Bible bashing material and some people that do that will do it well but I'd hope to get it across in a way that would show how much the Lord has meant in my life. When I get up in the morning, I know I'm not alone and the miracles that He's worked in my life and what He's made me and how happy my life is because of Him."