The classical edge to her finger-picking guitar work lends a sophistication to her fun folky pop songs that unfortunately is not matched by the lyrics.

The preachy tirades against the world's ills, the pop psychology and hippy spirituality are not subtle, but are delivered with the earnestness you would expect from a coffee house protest singer.

Unfortunately, she's no Ani diFranco or Leonard Cohen, each of whom I think she tries to be at times.

Some of the rhymes are a little too easy, the imagery and turn of phrase a bit too familiar.

At its best her voice is tremendous, but at others her pitch goes awry and she seems much more comfortable, albeit rather strident, with spoken word.

This collection of engaging, well-arranged tunes and good instrumental work fails to rise to the heights it should.

The opening track Masi (Choukran) (meaning thank you in the language of the indigenous Tlicho people with whom she has lived in the Arctic) includes some middle-eastern or Indian-sounding elements and the closing reprise, adds electronic beats and native American chanting.

Scatter is trancey and and there's a nice, downbeat rendition of Dream Academy's Life In A Northern Town, making the album about as well travelled as the woman herself.

Younger listeners who haven't heard it all before may well think this is the best thing since sliced bread but I suspect subsequent efforts will be far more rewarding.