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CD/DVD Releases: Iona Reissue, New Releases From Open Sky Records

Posted on Wednesday, June 03 @ 06:00:00 UTC by nightowl

Iona reports: "We can finally announce that Journey Into The Morn - Iona's best selling album to date - has now been re-released on our own Open Sky label, complete with great new artwork from Tim Martindale. Originally released towards the end of 1995, Morn was one of Q Magazine's top 50 albums of 1996 and one of their top 5 Folk Albums. Featuring many of Iona's best loved songs (see the Iona website for more details) we are thrilled to have this landmark album back in stock after being unavailable for a number of years. Available now from our web store at www.iona.uk.com.



"We would like to introduce you to the music of Nick Fletcher with this [Cathedral Of Dreams], our latest release on Open Sky Records. Nick is an incredibly talented guitarist, improviser and composer of music for solo guitar and we are thrilled to have this release included in the Open Sky catalogue. As well as being a first cd release of Nick?s own solo acoustic guitar compositions, the album will be of huge interest to fans of Iona as it features Nick playing 'Iberian Fantasy,' a 24-minute long Guitar Concerto co-written and orchestrated by Iona's Dave Bainbridge and Nick himself. Those of you who bought our Songs For Luca 2 double cd release will already have heard Nick?s beautiful playing on two tracks on that album - 'Silver Moon' and 'Red Sun.' The music spans a wide range of influences from the Baroque era to Iberian, Argentine and Brazilian dance forms. Also rhythms from Eastern Europe and traditional music from the Hebredian Isles. Fans of the acoustic guitar playing of guitarists such as Steve Hackett, Steve Howe, Andrew Yorke and Carlo Domeniconi will love Nick's beautiful playing. For more info please see the attached pdf press release. Available now from our web store at www.iona.uk.com.

For more info on Nick, visit: www.myspace.com/nickfletcherguitarist



"The latest epic release from a man who needs no introduction! With amazing fold out artwork from Tim Martindale that defies the normally accepted restrictions of the cd box, this is Troy [Donockley]'s third and most ambitious solo album to date. Here's what Simon Jones has to say about it in his Froots Magazine review:

Troy Donockley delights in throwing people curve balls, so far he?s done it on two albums, the first The Unseen Stream, was a glorious rush of pastoral influence and high, folk art, his second The Pursuit Of Illusion more individual but way beyond any meaningless attempt to hang a label on.

"Now we?ve his third opus ? opus isn?t a word I permit to be banded about loosely either - The Madness Of Crowds, which in my humble opinion is the most distinctive yet. It opens with the title track which, within minutes reminds you of either a soundtrack for a lost cut of Lord Of The Rings, music for a high brow BBC 2 documentary or the finest concert hall symphony. All this and another six items to boggle your critical facilities! To try and describe everything would be futile, this man loves to play with sense and sensibilities, yet not in any ad hoc way more in a way that says 'look I know this shouldn?t work, but let's live dangerously shall we?' Thankfully Troy taking risks is one of the pleasures that The Madness Of Crowds, displays with pride, it wears non conformity like a medal of honour, there is nothing else like it in the racks and probably won?t be until Mr. Donockley releases his fourth offering.

Each track shifts and morphs into new shapes and sounds like a kaleidoscope; for instance 'Orkhaugr,' opens like a Bulgarian, dance before ushering on industrial sound effects and huge guitar sustain, melting into Arabian textures, then comes a gorgeous melee of Vaughan Williams pastoral influence and soaring moments of Gustav Holst, all pushing out to a free form coda of high octane rock ?n? reeling. Truly this man knows no boundaries. Troy Donockley is idiosyncratic, a true one off, somebody who doesn?t follow the rules, a benign musical rebel who enriches whatever he touches with a certain class and unmistakeable individuality. The Madness Of Crowds, is pretty well unique. It will endure. - Simon Jones fRoots.

"We can only agree! Available now from www.troydonockley.co.uk



"Iona's co-founders reunite once again for another inspirational soundtrack to a book, taking up where The Eye Of The Eagle left off back in 1998. The music on this album was originally commissioned and conceived as an interpretation in sound of the incredibly inspiring imagery and prose contained within Mary Fleeson's wonderful book Life Journey (available from www.lindisfarne-scriptorium.co.uk). In that it has undoubtedly succeeded, but has also transcended the original brief as the unique chemistry between the two musicians that co-founded Iona has once again produced a deeply spiritual, timeless work. A completely instrumental album (apart from some choral samples), the two Davids came together and spent several days improvising as they poured over the book and responded to the words and pictures. Over the next year, these improvisations were gradually shaped into complete compositions which follow the chapters of the book. Dave B relates; 'In many ways this felt like we were returning to the source of the inspiration that birthed Iona the band. Iona was born out of David and I improvising together during soundchecks on Adrian Snell gigs back at the end of the 1980's and David's mystical experience of God's powerful Presence one dark night on the Island of Lindisfarne. This book was also birthed by Mary on Lindisfarne and much of its imagery is inspired by that amazing place. At certain points during the album you can hear sounds that Mary's husband Mark recorded on the island - the St Mary's church bell, the sea lapping on nearby St Cuthbert's Isle, the sound of the seabirds.' Listen to the track 'Graceful Trinity' from the album at www.worshipjournal.com

"Available in a few weeks time from our web store at www.iona.uk.com."

Posted in Album Release News