THE BOOK OF IONA, questo nutrito set di diciassette dischi, cattura non solo tutti gli album in studio degli Iona, ma presenta quasi la stessa quantità di musica su un Companion Disc per ogni album.
In questi dischi di accompagnamento, dei quali Dave Bainbridge ha supervisionato personalmente l’assemblaggio, contiene registrazioni in studio rare e inedite, alternate mix, registrazioni demo originali risalenti al momento in cui le canzoni sono state scritte per la prima volta, oltre a nuove registrazioni (principalmente strumentali) di molte canzoni degli Iona che valorizzano tutti i membri della band di ogni epoca della storia della band.
Di seguito è riportato l’elenco delle tracce provvisorie dei dischi di accompagnamento alle quali ne verranno aggiunte altre.
IONA COMPANION AUDIO DISK
Turning Tide (remastered from original 2 track DAT master tape)
Flight of the Wild Goose 1 (Dave’s original demo)
Flight of the Wild Goose (original album version – remastered from original 2 track mixtape).
The Island (Jo’s original demo)
The Island (original album version – remastered from original 2 track mixtape)
White Sands (Dave’s original demo)
Dancing on the Wall (original demo)
Dancing on the Wall (original album version – remastered from original 2 track mixtape)
A’Machair (original album version – remastered from original 2 track mixtape)
Vision of Naran (original demo)
Vision of Naran (remastered from original 2 track DAT master tape)
Beijing (Dave original demo)
Iona (Jo’s original demo)
Iona (remastered from original 2 track DAT master tape)
Trilogy (first Iona studio demo version, which includes some sections not used on the album)
Here I Stand (original version with piano)
Columcille (with Electric guitar playing the melody!)
BEYOND THESE SHORES COMPANION AUDIO DISK Complete running order to be confirmed, but including:
Bird of Heaven (alternate vocal section – demo early 1993)
Bird of Heaven (2007 remix)
Machrie Moor (solo harp version)
Burning Like Fire (rehearsal, Acton, London, early 1993)
Beachy Head (rehearsal, Acton, London, early 1993)
Murlough Bay (Jo’s original demo, early 1993)
Frippertronics (with Robert Fripp)
JOURNEY INTO THE MORN COMPANION AUDIO DISK Complete running order to be confirmed, but including:
Bi-Se I Mo Shuil Part1 (Dave’s original demo Feb 1995)
Everything Changes (original completely different version, recorded during Kells album sessions)
Journey into the Morn (2007 new arrangement & recording, featuring Roine Stolt)
Frippertronics (with Robert Fripp)
Moya Brennan & Joanne Hogg Vocal Loops
OPEN SKY COMPANION AUDIO DISK Complete running order to be confirmed, but including:
Woven Cord (rehearsal take, including slow section not on the album version. Recorded at Joanne’s, Ireland 10/98)
Wave after Wave (Dave & Jo’s original demo Otley 3/99)
Hinba (Jo’s original demo)
Songs of Ascent Part 1 (Dave’s early demo)
Lament for the World (Dave & Jo’s demo of this piece)
Jo Hymn Tune idea (demo)
A Dhia Gheigil (Angel of God) (Beautiful vocal version of this track, originally considered for inclusion on the album)
Jo Song of Hope Vocal loops (from Open Sky album studio recording)
I Cannot Understand (Dave & Jo song idea)
Columba Poem song idea (Jo & Dave improvising around Columba’s 6th century creation poem)
The Spacious Firmament (Jo & Dave working on a song idea which ended up on Jo’s first solo album)
Voices (Jo Layered Vocals)
Vocal Harmonies & Keys (nice layering of Joanne’s vocals over Dave’s chord progression)
THE CIRCLING HOUR COMPANION AUDIO DISK Complete running order to be confirmed, but including:
How Wonderful (original Jo & Dave demos, recorded late ’90’s in Ireland)
Spirit of God (this version recorded in 2006 for BBC’s Songs of Praise)
Almighty Father Who Dost Give (this version recorded in 2006 for BBC’s Songs of Praise)
ANOTHER REALM COMPANION AUDIO DISK Complete running order to be confirmed, but including:
All that we Have ever dreamed (recorded in July 2011. Troy plays low whistle on this demo, Jo piano, Dave keys & mixing)
Jo & Dave Improvisation (Spontaneous improvisation, recorded at Open Sky Studio on 11th January 2011)
Don’t Look Back (recorded October 2009 at Joanne’s, this was the original demo of what became White Horse)
Dave & Martin Improvisation 1 (Spontaneous improvisation, recorded 14th December 2010)
Gotta Lift Our Eyes Up (recorded in October 2009 at Joanne’s, another song considered for ‘Another Realm’)
Dave & Martin Improvisation 2
Valley of Decision (recorded in October 2009 at Joanne’s, another song considered for ‘Another Realm’)
Dave & Martin Improvisation Pipes Free
What a Day (recorded in February 2010 at Joanne’s, another track considered for ‘Another Realm’)
Dave & Martin Improvisation Pipes Hymn-like
And the Angels Dance (single mix)
Slow Air ( Martin & Dave – Recorded in February 2010 at Joanne’s)
THE SOUND WORLD OF IONA Complete running order to be confirmed, but including:
Featuring newly recorded, mainly instrumental tracks, with contributions from all past Iona band members
White Sands (Nick Beggs & Dave Bainbridge)
Shell of Speech (Tim Harries with Dave Bainbridge. Based on sound samples from the Journey into the Morn album)
I Will Give My Love and Apple (Dave Bainbridge solo piano version)
Edge of the World (Mike Haughton & Dave Bainbridge)
Air from France (Martin Nolan & Dave Bainbridge)
Luke – the Calf (Dave Bainbridge guitar version)
Táimse im Chodladh (Martin Nolan & Dave Bainbridge)
Today (Dave Bainbridge solo piano version)
Beyond These Shores (with special guest Sally Minnear)
Beijing (widescreen remix)
Plus other new recordings tbc, featuring David Fitzgerald, Terl Bryant, Frank Van Essen, Troy Donockley, Martin Neil, Phil Barker & Sally Minnear
Per il pre-ordine QUI
Nati nel 1989, gli Iona hanno preso il nome dalla piccola isola al largo della costa occidentale della Scozia. Fin dall’inizio, il loro obiettivo era quello di scrivere musica spirituale, d’atmosfera, ma edificante che suscitasse emozioni, tessendo schemi complessi che riecheggiassero il lavoro intricato dei nodi dei grandi artisti celtici. Spesso ispirata alle grandi figure dell’età d’oro celtica come Columba, Aidan, Brendan e Patrick, la musica di IONA è senza tempo come il messaggio che ci raggiunge attraverso i secoli.
Combinando in modo univoco elementi rock / folk / progressivi / etnici e ambient con la voce cristallina di Joanne Hogg come focus, gli Iona hanno creato un tripudio di colori e trame.
Gli Iona hanno una formidabile reputazione di grande band dal vivo, con incredibile musicalità e battute disarmanti e umoristiche e sono stati notati per le loro registrazioni in studio senza tempo e innovative. Hanno pubblicato 7 acclamati album in studio, quattro album live (tre doppi, più uno con The All Souls Orchestra), un cofanetto da 4 cd splendidamente illustrato e due DVD. Il loro ultimo album, Edge of the World – Live in Europe, è stato pubblicato nel 2013.
A cinque anni dall’ultima esibizione dal vivo della band e la decisione di interrompere il tour e la registrazione per il prossimo futuro arriva THE BOOK OF IONA, il primo di una serie di uscite di cofanetti degli Iona di Gonzo Multimedia.