Iona - The Circling Hour

Published Thursday 30th November 2006
Iona - The Circling Hour
Iona - The Circling Hour

STYLE: Celtic
RATING 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9
OUR PRODUCT CODE: 14163-11658
LABEL: Open Sky OPENVP11CD
FORMAT: CD Album
RELEASE DATE: 2006-11-10
RRP: £12.99

Reviewed by Jamie Hailstone

Iona fans have waited a long time for this CD. The Celtic group's last release, 'Open Sky', was six years ago, so the £60,000 question is - was their patience justified? The answer is an emphatic yes. 'The Circling Hour' is what journalists like to describe as a return to form. Iona may be in their 17th year, but they sound fresh and focused on this 11 track CD. All of the band's signature elements are present and correct, from Joanne Hogg's ethereal vocals, to the swirling mixture of drums, keyboards, guitars and uillean pipes. The opener, "Empyrean Dawn", has a deceptively quiet introduction, before the whole comes in with a thunderous crescendo. The backbone of the record is a stunning three song set marked "Wind, Water and Fire". The set is a testament to the sheer musicianship that Iona has to offer. They are highly proficient, without ever being over-indulgent, lush and evocative. Mixer John Kellogg, who has worked with Chicago, Deep Purple and the Black Crowes, among others, gives the recording a rich, cinematic feel. The band are clearly firing on all cylinders and loving every minute of it. If only they could get into the studio more often. Six years is a long time to wait!

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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Product Description
The long awaited follow up to 'Open Sky'

Reader Comments

Posted by phill in nottinghham @ 16:22 on Sep 3 2006

Factory Of Magnificent Souls - isn't that the best song title you've heard in ages?

Can't wait to hear the whole album.



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