They are contemporaries of fellow Celtic artists Enya and Clannad; however, Iona's works are also influenced heavily by jazz-fusion, prog-rock and ancient Christian themes.
For Iona's 1990 debut album, the band added: drummer Terl Bryant, bassist Nick Beggs (former bassist of Kajagoogoo) and several studio musicians -- Fiona Davidson (Celtic harp), Peter Whitfield (strings), Troy Donockley (Uillean pipes) and Frank Van Essen (tuned percussion). The self-titled album received very little press, even in their home country, though a Dutch network compiled a documentary based on Iona, the band and the island.
Two years later, Iona returned with "Book of Kells", and the album was praised by North American critics
as well as those of the British Isles. David Fitzgerald left in 1992 to pursue a degree in music and, as a result, Iona lost much of its jazz influences by the following year's Beyond These Shores. The group made up for Fitzgerald's absence, however, by inviting Robert Fripp to guest on the album. Both albums also featured former Kajagoogoo bassist/stickist Nick Beggs. A contract with England's Alliance Music led to "Journey into the Morn"; the album was released in 1996 in the U.S. and Canada, and was listed among the top five folk albums in Q Magazine's Year End Review. "Heaven's Bright Sun", a live album, came the following year, then "Woven Cord" in 2000, and "Open Sky" in 2001.
Their latest release, new to 2007, is called "The Circling Hour".
iona has been a Leipzig, Germany based postrock-band from 2005-2010 that now reemerges as The Yuki Rush. https://ionanoise.bandcamp.com/album/a-noise
There is also a Romanian experimental / hip hop band who also go by the name "Iona",
Children Of Time
Iona Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The rainbow gleams of a world unknown,
There are veils that lift, there are bars that fall,
There are lights that beacon, and winds that call,
There are hurrying feet, and we dare not wait,
For the hour is on us,
The circling hour of the flaming gate
Oh Children of Time
Children of Time
The music calls and the gates unclose,
Onward and onward the wild way goes,
O fading phantoms of pain and mirth,
We die in the bliss of a new birth
Of fading loves,
Fading loves of the old green Earth
Children of Time
To follow to seek to dare
Step by step in the evening air
Children of Time
Fair, they shine through the burning zone,
The rainbow gleams of a world unknown,
Fair, they shine through the burning zone,
The rainbow gleams
The lyrics of Iona’s song Children of Time speak of a journey of transcendence and transformation as the “children of time” traverse through different realms of existence. The opening line of “Fair, they shine through the burning zone” references the beauty and resilience of light as it penetrates through obstacles and danger. This idea of light represents knowledge, truth, and divine guidance, and it acts as a beacon for the travelers as they navigate through the unknown. The “world unknown” represents the great mysteries of life that the travelers seek to unlock through their journey.
The second stanza talks about the urgency of the journey, as there are barriers and hindrances that must be overcome. The “circling hour of the flaming gate” represents a moment where one has to face a daunting challenge or obstacle that seems impossible to overcome. However, the travelers are encouraged to press on, to not wait, but to embrace the journey and take the steps of faith necessary, no matter how unsure or dangerous it may seem.
The refrain “Children of Time” is repeated throughout, and it speaks of the timeless nature of humanity and our quest for knowledge and transcendence. The final stanza speaks of the blissful release from the “fading loves of the old green Earth” and the embracing of a new life that is full of wonder and new adventures.
Overall, Iona’s Children of Time is a powerful song that speaks to the human desire for adventure and discovery, while acknowledging the challenges and risks along the way.
Line by Line Meaning
Fair, they shine through the burning zone,
The light shines through the fire and chaos,
The rainbow gleams of a world unknown,
Guided by hope, we venture into the unknown,
There are barriers falling and possibilities revealed,
Obstacles are removed and opportunities are now present,
Guiding lights and beckoning winds are what we now feel,
Newfound direction and motivation are now at hand,
Time is of the essence and we must not hesitate,
We must act quickly and decisively,
As the moment of truth is upon us,
We are faced with a critical decision,
The hour of reckoning at the fiery gate
A period of reflection and accountability awaits us,
Oh Children of Time,
We are all part of the same timeline,
We are the heirs to a legacy divine,
We inherit the wisdom of the ages,
The music plays and the gates of opportunity arise,
New opportunities present themselves,
Onwards and upwards, we venture into the unknown skies,
We embark on a new journey towards the unknown,
Leaving behind the fading memories of pain and pleasure,
We move on from past memories of both good and bad,
We pass on to the next stage of life's grand measure,
We progress to the next part of our journey,
The love we once knew,
Past love fades away,
Fades away like the green of the old Earth's hue,
Just like the green of Earth fades, so does old love,
Children of Time,
We are all part of the same timeline,
We must strive and climb,
We must put in effort and work hard,
An endless quest to seek what we may find.
Our search for knowledge and truth never ends.
Fair, they shine through the burning zone,
The light shines through the fire and chaos,
Illuminating the way to the realm previously unknown.
Guiding us towards a new world previously unknown.
Contributed by Hunter Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Alyson Kelly
on Revelation
Revelation
by Iona
____________________________________________________
Waiting for the Spirit of Truth to tell
Power on Earth to stand in the face of hell
Waiting for the sky to clear
Waiting for the Son to appear
Waiting to see you
Waiting to hear you
Waiting for vision
To see your, your
Revelation
Learning the purifying flame
Regeneration after the growing pain
Longing for the words to flow
Longing for the world to know
Waiting to see you
Waiting to hear you
Waiting for vision
To see your, your
Revelation
Waiting to see you
Waiting to hear you
Waiting for vision
To see your, your
Revelation
Waiting to see you
Waiting to hear you
Waiting for vision
To see your, your
Revelation
Waiting to see you
Waiting to hear you
Waiting for vision
To see your, your, your, your
Revelation