I was at an open air concert by the Greek Dylan (Savopoulos) one summer in Greece, back in 1997 or -8, listening to the pre-gig incidental music over the PA, when my ears pricked up. In the interval I went to the sound man and asked what was that song about a highwayman and who was the singer. The next week I ordered all of Loreena's CDs and devoured them.

I certainly never regretted my purchase - I last had a listen-through earlier this year.

Then in early 2003 I met Andy Irvine and heard him doing the same song. Now, I knew Andy's name from the 70s, from that fabulous version of Arthur McBride with Paul Brady. I didn't know that he also did an even better version of the Highwayman than Loreena! Apparently he had played on Loreena's recording of the song (though they never met in the studio but only later), loved it and learned it himself. Incidentally, at that same first meeting Andy asked for Emptyhanded, and his version of it now is my favourite (I know others prefer mine, let's not go there, it's a matter of taste, proving once more the creative power that a performer can bring to bear on a song.

But back to Loreena. I may prefer Andy's version of the Highwayman, but it was Loreena' voice and arrangements that first attracted me to the song, and I still love her version and would play that instead of Andy's to any non-folkie to introduce them to the genre.

The thing with Loreena is that, just like Enya, she "soundscapes". What I mean is that she is good (no, she is brilliant) at "painting pictures with sounds" through her arrangements and delivery. She is "atmospheric" and her music can actually change my mood rapidly. These days, partly through my own songwriting activities, I tend to pay attention more to the lyrics. But Loreena's music reminds me that there are tune-writers and arrangers out there who are good enough to convey feelings even without words.

Loreena McKennitt's music is in my all-time top 20. I'd also love to meet her and be a fly on the wall when she creates, but being realistic I am just grateful that she came to my attention.