Iona

The River Flows

a fusion of progressive rock and
traditional Celtic themes

Box Set Album Review

Of course, I bought the recent material first, so the bands first self-produced release, the four-CD set The River Flows, (Open Sky (UK) 1902612, 2002) has filled all the gaps in my collection very nicely, and it is simply a wonderful package. The collection comes in hardback book form, with the CDs attached to the front and back cover so beware: the CDs can fly off in all directions if you open the covers too firmly. The 60-page full-colour booklet inside is mainly essential reading, detailing the making of each of the four CDs, the re-mastering and--in the case of the first album--remixing of the albums in entertaining and informative style. But it is the CDs themselves that make the package, and they are simply wonderful.

Of course, I bought the recent material first, so the bands first self-produced release, the four-CD set The River Flows, (Open Sky (UK) 1902612, 2002) has filled all the gaps in my collection very nicely, and it is simply a wonderful package. The collection comes in hardback book form, with the CDs attached to the front and back cover so beware: the CDs can fly off in all directions if you open the covers too firmly. The 60-page full-colour booklet inside is mainly essential reading, detailing the making of each of the four CDs, the re-mastering and--in the case of the first album--remixing of the albums in entertaining and informative style. But it is the CDs themselves that make the package, and they are simply wonderful.

More recent fans of the band will certainly note the differences in instrumentation in these early albums. They are built around the nucleus of Dave Bainbridge on guitar and keyboards, David Fitzgerald (on Iona and Kells) on wind instruments and Joanne Hogg on vocals. Uilleann Pipe player Troy Donockley only guests on the early albums, and his folkier influence is therefore more prominent later on. On these first three, sax remains prominent and the progressive leanings of the band are, interestingly, already well established.

Iona (1990). Compared to the original version of this album, the remixed and partially re-recorded version of Iona is a revelation. All the features of the band’s later music are here. The great, atmospheric songs, steeped in the History of Christianity, like "the Island" and "Iona," Joanne’s voice is already wonderful, and the remixes bring this out even more. The extended "Trilogy" with its wonderful theme and atmospheric instrumentation is another highlight, as is the superb "A’Machair," which continues to hint at the lush sound to be found on later albums. However, it is also fascinating for its suggestions of where Iona’s music might have gone in other circumstances.

"Flight of the Wild Goose" suggests the jazzy progressive rock of Camel, while "Dancing on the Wall" is a slice of dance-pop the band have never repeated. "Beijing," on the other hand, is a lovely orient-influenced instrumental, suggesting that the band could tackle world music with considerable aplomb. Overall, this is a strong debut, and the new mixes and recordings have made it something rather special.

Joanne Hogg (from boxset booklet)

The Book of Kells (1992). This is a remarkable piece of work, and amazingly bold for a second album. A concept piece, it explores the contents and spirit of the famous illuminated manuscript of the gospels, both in its lyrical content and it’s wonderfully evocative instrumental pieces. It includes some of the bands finest songs (though you could argue that they have never written a bad one). "Revelation" is quite awe-inspiring, and "Chi-Rho" is another wonderful song, while the astonishing "Temptation" with its swirls of Middle-Eastern rhythm is the centrepiece of the album.

The powerful yet luxurious "Matthew the Man" is wonderful, with Nick Beggs’ bass especially effective, while "Mark the Lion" is superbly powerful, contrasting well with the beauty of "Luke," and the grandeur of "John." The "Kells" theme is just a little Clannad-like for my taste, and David Fitzgerald’s sax playing now seems a little dated in places during the album, but overall this is quite stunning, and it is easy to see why some fans rate this as their favourite.

Beyond these Shores (1994). This third album was not a concept album. This time there were certain themes running through it, illustrating the reputed voyage of St. Brendan across the Atlantic in a coracle. The album also marked the recruitment of Mike Haughton on wind instruments after the departure of David Fitzgerald. I initially thought that this was a slightly weaker album than Kells, but after repeated playings--and Iona are very much a band for repeated playings--it is clear that this is a wonderful album. Joanne’s songs and singing are as strong as ever, and the playing and arrangements are wonderful.

Dave Bainbridge (from boxset booklet)

Highlights include the theme from "Brendan’s Voyage" and the following delightful song "Edge of the World." "Bird of Heaven" continues the tradition of Iona mega tracks and is an inspirational piece. "Burning Like Fire" is another song that shows just how good the band can be at writing great choruses when required, though both "Beachy Head" and "Healing," though emotional, sounds just a little too MOR for my tastes. "Beyond These Shores," however, rounds the album off in atmospheric fashion.

Dunes. (2002) Snowdonia-Realm of the Ravens was originally recorded as a soundtrack for a BBC wildlife programme in 1994, and the band have here expanded on, and remixed it into a continuous 20-minute piece. It is actually very good, with Joanne’s vocal chants, the main theme and Dave’s guitar especially effective, though it has more worth as ambient music than a piece you will wish to concentrate on repeatedly.

The other bonus tracks are also interesting, "Hearthquake," "Jigs" and "Castlerigg/Reels" preserving current live arrangements for posterity. The highlight for me is the delightfully sensitive, acoustic version of "I will give my love an apple," a song performed for a Classic Rock society acoustic CD and performed in their set at various live performances.

On the first few listens I found four CDs of such wonderful music quite overwhelming. Whether you are a Christian or not their beliefs have inspired the band to produce some of the most imaginative, uplifting music I have heard in a long time. I really hope Iona flourish under the direct control breaking away from their record company has given them, and if this box set is anything to go by, the future should be bright indeed.--Stephen Lambe