Iona - Another Realm (2011)

×

Iona - Another Realm (2011)

Close

Almost 5 years after the release of IONA's last studio album 'The Circling Hour', the band's latest opus 'Another Realm' is now available. Over a year in the making, this is the band's first double CD studio album, with over 95 minutes of brand new, original music! The band has expressed that in some ways this album is like a new beginning and a renewing of that original vision which first inspired the formation of IONA. With some incredible new songs, both epic and intimate instrumental sections, stunning vocals from a newly impassioned Joanne Hogg, and introducing new band member Martin Nolan on pipes and whistles, 'Another Realm' will take you on a journey that will deeply touch and inspire.

~ iona

Yes, I am given to hyperbole at times, but I think that on this occasion it's warranted - Iona, after 20 years of service to their heavenly muse, are still creating wonderful soundscapes and 'pushing the envelope' as any progressive act should. I agree totally with "Philox" and "tmdavis21" and also thank this band for offering us the depth and truth of their spiritual vision. With such integrity and dedication to their cause, and despite the many lineup changes and difficulties along the way, they have kept the faith while remaining open to innovation. True, they tend to farm the same furrow ( e.g. a yearning sense of place, recurrent images of sea and sky ) on each outing, but this reflects the steadfast singularity of their mission - to depict these esoteric themes in music as visceral and emotive as their Christian convictions. It's consistent, to be sure - and consistently excellent.

Joanne and Dave felt they were reaching back to the early days of Iona - their 'first love' - when the inspiration for this album visited them, and I hear echoes of "The Book Of Kells" on tracks like "The Fearless Ones". The intense beauty, the superb production, the sharp dynamics - all Iona trademarks - are there in abundance. And 'Another Realm' dares to speak not just of this world and the next, but of warfare in the space between them, a new motif that in lesser hands could have missed the mark. Once again, Iona manage to blend the ethereal and the down-to-earth with consummate skill. The playing is brilliant, especially by the very gifted Frank van Essen, while Joanne's voice simply captures the spirit of the whole project with every note. Set aside the time to listen to this one lying down, in the dark, with headphones, and you'll be transported, as I was.

By pablo C, Amazon

×

Iona - Another Realm (2011)

Close

Iona Biography:

Though Iona is included with Enya and Clannad in the list of contemporary Celtic artists, the Scottish band's influences – including jazz-fusion, prog-rock and ancient Christian themes – are more varied. Named for an island off Scotland's western coast, the group was formed in the late '80s by vocalist Joanne Hogg and multi-instrumentalists David Fitzgerald and Dave Bainbridge.

For Iona's 1990 self-titled debut album included further acquisitions: drummer Terl Bryant, bassist Nick Beggs (former bassist of Kajagoogoo) and several studio musicians – Fiona Davidson (Celtic harp), Peter Whitfield (strings), Troy Donockley (Uillean pipes) and Frank Van Essen (tuned percussion). The album received very little press, even in their home country, though a Dutch network compiled a documentary based on Iona, the band and the island.

Two years later, Iona returned with Book of Kells, and the album was praised by North American critics as well as those of the British Isles. David Fitzgerald left in 1992 to pursue a degree in music and, as a result, Iona lost much of its jazz influences by the following year's Beyond These Shores. The group made up for Fitzgerald's absence, however, by inviting Robert Fripp to guest on the album. A contract with England's Alliance Music led to 1995's Journey into the Morn; the album was released early the following year in the U.S. and Canada. Fitzgerald returned to active recording in 1995, when he released the solo album Columcille. Journey into the Morn followed in 1996.

by John Bush, All Music Guide

–––––––––

Иона - прогрессивная кельтская рок-группа из Великобритании, которая была сформирована в конце 1980-х, вокалистка Джоан Хогг и мульти-инструменталисты Дэвид Фитцджеральд и Дэйв Байнбридж.
К тому времени, Иона выпустили свой первый одноименный альбом в 1990, барабанщик Терл Брайант, басист Ник Бегс (бывший басист группы Kajagoogoo), Фиона Дэвидсон на кельтской арфе, Питер Уитфилд по струнам, Трой Donockley на трубах Uillean и ударник Фрэнк Ван Эссен присоединились к группе. Первый альбом Иона сосредоточен главным образом на истории острова Иона, от которого группа получила свое название.

~ Last Fm

×

Iona - Another Realm (2011)

Close

×

Iona - Another Realm (2011)

Close

×

Iona - Another Realm (2011)

Close