Iona - Open Sky (2000)

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Iona - Open Sky (2000)

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Iona's seventh album brings more of their patented progressive layered instrumentals and ambient respites, both seasoned by uilleann pipes, whistles, and other folk instruments. Unlike previous albums, however, Open Sky's instrumental passages possess more drive and body than before. It wasn't uncommon for such segments to continue vapidly for five or ten minutes before finally fading to an unsatisfying conclusion. Guitarist Dave Bainbridge makes much better use of his talents and available time (73 minutes) as he incorporates less of the innocuous and more of the inspired playing, akin to Steve Hackett as heard on The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway and Trick of the Tail. In fact the technique employed by drummer Frank Van Essen resembles that of Genesis drummer Phil Collins from that same period. That's not to infer that Iona has abandoned their ambient and noodling proclivities; they've just found a way of making them more tuneful and relevant. The addition of violin (also played by Van Essen) to their lineup has made a difference in that regard. While Joanne Hogg's voice is prominent on several songs, Iona has always had the visage of an all-instrumental band. Her supple voice radiates from and melts into the music in much the same manner as a woodwind or electric keyboard. It's used more for textured than expressive purposes but is, nevertheless, a key identifying feature of this band. This is probably the most focused and well-conceived effort, thus far, by Iona.

by Dave Sleger

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Iona - Open Sky (2000)

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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

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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.

~ LastFm

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Iona - Open Sky (2000)

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Iona - Open Sky (2000)

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