Description
The self-titled debut album by the British progressive rock/Celtic fusion band Iona was released in the UK on What? Records in 1990, a sub-label of Word Records. Also released in the US by ForeFront Records the following year.
The music on Iona’s debut album is as refreshing as the mist on the moors of its namesake Scottish isle. The three-member group sports a modern rock approach with strong Celtic influences, very reminiscent of certain tunes of Clannad’s more recent work.
Like Celtic rockers U2, Van Morrison, Big Country and the aforenamed Clannad, Iona’s music resonates with a mystical quality evident both in its echoes of traditional instrumentation and lyrics that point to God in more poetic than dogmatic terms. Nevertheless, the band clearly communicates its Christian faith through acient symbols of its home land, like the wild goose which graces the cover art, a Celtic symbol of the Holy Spirit.
Originally released on the British What? Records label, the album boasts as much instrumental as vocal-based music. Good thing, cause Iona’s music is not only skillfully and sensitively played, but an important addition to the contemporary Christian music world. Europeans have traditionally held more respect and given more support for contemporary instrumental music by Christian artists (jazz, blues, etc.), and this album is already distributed throughout the continent and Scandinavia. Gratefully, Forefront has taken the risk to expose it to Americans, who will hopefully check out this most significant new release. [Thom Granger, CCM, January 1992]
As part of a programme of re-releases of Iona’s back catalogue and some new solo material from Troy Donockley and Dave Bainbridge, their 1990 debut album receives a digital make over with some tracks re-mastered and others re-worked. Iona created an interest in Celtic spirituality and music in the early ’90s and this is the album that kicked it off. Here, songs like «The Island», «Iona», «Here I Stand» and «Columcille» all became Iona faves whilst «Trilogy» is their first foray into the epic pieces that would become their trademark. The combination of Joanne Hogg’s pure voice, Dave Fitzgerald’s amazing playing and Bainbridge’s ethereal keyboards and expressive guitar still make this one of the very best albums ever recorded by a Christian band in the UK. Oh yeah, and you can have fun identifying which new bits of playing have been added to spice up the songs! [Mike Rimmer, Cross Rhythms, March 2005]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/iona/1535611727)
CD tracklist:
01. Turning Tide – 1:25
02. Flight Of The Wild Goose – 6:01
03. The Island – 5:10
04. White Sands – 3:35
05. Dancing On The Wall – 4:33
06. A’Mhachair – The Plain – 5:29
07. Vision Of Naran – 5:49
08. Beijing – 5:16
09. Iona – Mother Of Lindisfarne – 3:44
10. Trilogy (Birth, Destruction, Re-Birth Of Iona) – 8:36
11. Here I Stand – 2:36
12. Columcille (Dove Of The Church) – 3:20
Note: Simultaneously released on 12-inch vinyl LP (without the track “A’Mhachair – The Plain”) and CD by What? Records in UK/Europe. Released on cassette and CD in the US.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.