Iona - Circling Hour
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Free Music Notes for Circling Hour
Free Music Review: A band that never grows old and again explores new ground
Hit: 5 Stars
Unlike many bands, Iona never seems to grow old and they are never afraid to try new musical terrains and territories. This is easily the most 'rock' of all of Iona's albums to date. Still, it contains all the beauty, elegance and majesty that fans of Iona expect -- with the vocals of Joanne Hogg again as soothing and somehow exquisitely hopeful and plaintive as ever -- but the band rocks at an intensity that has never been found on any Iona album up to this point. As ever, Iona is a study in contrasts with all this rocking being balanced by drummer par excellance Frank van Essen's crystalline classically-trained violin giving a balance that only musicians of this calibre can express. To say this is a magnificent album is an understatement. It is Iona, confidant after nearly two decades of playing together, and yet never losing sight of what brought them together in the first place. If there is anything that I wish was different on this album it's that as a fan of both Iona and Yes's Rick Wakeman, I know that Rick Wakeman has always loved Iona and has said that he'd like to play with them one day. I know they are friends and so when I got this CD from Amazon, I quickly rifled through the credits hoping to find Rick guesting on this album -- as King Crimson's Robert Fripp once did long ago on a couple of Iona's previous albums. It wasn't to be but hey, it gives one something to look forward to on a future Iona project, doesn't it?Free Music Review: Musical perfection in balance
Hit: 5 Stars
Na 29 april 2006 de live presentatie van The Circling Hour in de Zwolse IJsselhallen te hebben gehoord en gezien, was het wachten op de final release van het nieuwste album van de Brits/Hollandse folk/celtic/progressive rockformatie IONA. Wat van Empyrean Dawn tot en met Fragment of a Fiery Sun opvalt is het inmiddels geweldig op elkaar ingespeeld zijn van de huidige bezetting, de kunst om van losse songs (Factory of Magnificient Souls over Robben Island, de gevangenis van Nelson Mandela circuleerde al enkele jaren) toch een geintegreerd concept te maken en de uitgebalanceerde bijdrage van elk van de getalenteerde musici. Met Wind off the Lake vol reels is opnieuw een recordpoging lange songs (11:02) gedaan. Joanne Hogg blijft schitterend galmen, en de meer keltische invloeden van Dave Bainbridge of Troy Donockle zijn gelijmd op het herkenbare drumspel van Frank van Essen en de markante baslijnen van Phil Barker. Frank heeft in een prachtige hoofdrol op viool in Wind, het eerste gedeelte van het drieluik Wind, Water & Fire, dat samen bijna een kwartier muzikaal genot geeft. Al met al een geweldige aanvulling op het toch al rijke repertoire van IONA.Free Music Review: Iona - Great Celtic Progressive Rock
Hit: 5 Stars
Iona is a Celtic progressive rock band from Ireland whom I have heard about for years, but never explored. This is the first album I have picked up by them and I must say that I am impressed. Reviews I have read of this disc seem to be mixed from fans compared to earlier releases, but being the first album I have been exposed to I really enjoy it. This is an album that I find more layers to enjoy with each successive listen. The Celtic influence is strong on several tracks especially the 11 minute plus "Wind Off the Lake". The 3 part "Wind, Water and Fire" suite is an album highlight as is the beautiful "Factory Of Magnificent Souls" and the instrumental "Sky Maps". Overall the music here is a great conglomeration of progressive rock, traditional Irish / Celtic music, and some straight ahead pop. The vocals from Joanna Hogg are top notch and the instrumental sections all first rate. The band's Christian influence appears here and there on the disc, but never comes across as preachy. I am definitely going to explore more of this band's catalogue.Free Music Review: Iona Back to Form
Hit: 5 Stars
Iona is back to form with their latest release, The Circling Hour. I have been a fan of Iona since their very first studio album. There is no band quite like Iona - Christian or otherwise. The Circling Hour is filled with great moments and some wonderful surprises. Each track is a gift to the listener and a small part of the greater journey that is the project itself. The Circling Hour is easily their best work since Journey Into Morn. Clearly the hiatus since Open Sky was a great thing for the band, and bodes well for future work.Free Music Review: Wow, just wow!!!
Hit: 5 Stars
I have to say that the youtube clips from this album do not do it justice. The production on this album is very good, absolutely amazing; and the music is unbelievable! Iona are a Christian Celtic/prog rock band, with music that is unique and spiritually uplifting. They manage to make complex music that doesn't sound showy, unlike so many "progressive" bands out there. These songs aren't scale exercises, they're masterpieces of musical composition! Highly recommended!