Iona - Circling Hour
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Free Music Notes for Circling Hour
Free Music Review: Deeply and sadly disappointing!!!
Hit: 2 Stars
For me, deeply and sadly disappointing.
I have been an Iona fan for over 10 years. I am still awestruck with their earlier CDs, which are very progressive and deeply powerful experiences. Journey Into the Morn and Beyond These Shores, in particular, I consider as two of the greatest CD's of any band ever. They are so well done and just supernatural. Being a fan of Yes, early Genesis, and Gentle Giant, I was so glad to have discovered that there was finally a truly progressive Christian rock band. Nonetheless, for me personally, I think Iona took a musical nosedive after Journey Into the Morn. The Circling Hour seems to pale in comparison to earlier CD's, which I find sadly disappointing. I can't believe that I would say this about an Iona CD, but I just don't like The Circling Hour at all! I wish that I could get into it.
I found Joanne's singing to be very disappointing and boring. She lacks the intensity, power, passion, and urgency of previous CD's, like on Beyond These Shores. She talk-sings a lot and sounds maternal, like she's singing a child to sleep and can't really use her voice. She seems to sing with little power or edge. I think there's no comparison with the power and passion of Joanne's voice of earlier CD's, like Beyond These Shores or The Book of Kells, where she's just awesome!
The new drummer is obviously competent, but he slams the drums and I think that he doesn't interpret the music as well as Terl Bryant. It's annoying and occasionally startling. Sometimes he sounds like he's slamming on a giant pile of cardboard. Dave and Troy are always great players, but there is nothing new in their music anymore. The songs are the same ideas and formulas repeated over and over since the live album but never achieving the earlier greatness. The songs on Circling seem to just move along horizontally, not vertically, with no great moments. And contrary to the astonishing opinion of another reviewer, I strongly appeal to you that this is absolutely NOT the most progressive CD to date. It is one of the least progressive! This music is more akin to Riverdance and Eden's Bridge, a semi-Iona copy band.
I can understand why people like this CD because Iona is very talented and unique among celtic music, but the Circling Hour is more popular sounding than previous Iona CD's. And the popular sound is more appealing to many people. But, if you're like me and prefer something more progressive, purchase Journey Into the Morn, and Beyond These Shores. They're remarkable! These can be purchased on the Iona UK website.
Free Music Review: Dissapointing and Uninspiring!
Hit: 2 Stars
I regret that I have to agree 100% with the reviewer previous that stated this was an dissapointing release by an otherwise amazing band. Iona rehashes a lot of their previous instrumental ideas and there are really no progressive pop hits on this album that trademark previous releases. Joanne singing is weak and breathy, Dave's guitar solos seem a bit sloppy, and overall the production does not seem mixed well.