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",
Kells Opening Theme
Iona Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To seek the way
And watch the moon rise into night,
Illuminating with its light
My thoughts they turn in time and place,
Illuminated Word of grace
A throne in sight that blazes like eternal dawn
The mystery of Father, Spirit and the Son,
The Three in One
And precious stones of colours bright
Eagle and calf, lion and man,
Do meet around the throne of light
In colours rich that last through time
In patterns of the Spirit's mind
Illuminated Word divine
I stand on ground I've walked before,
To seek the way
The lyrics of Iona's song, Kells Opening Theme, reflect on the experience of seeking divine guidance and wisdom from a place of familiarity. The opening lines, "I stand on ground I've walked before, to seek the way," suggest that the singer is revisiting a familiar place, possibly a place of worship or a sacred location to seek guidance. The moon rising into the night illuminates the path and provides light for the singer's journey.
The lyrics then turn to reference the "illuminated Word of grace," a concept often associated with Christian theology. The singer is seeking divine guidance, perhaps to find purpose in life or to find answers to difficult questions.
Line by Line Meaning
I stand on ground I've walked before,
I am revisiting a familiar place to find the path I seek.
And watch the moon rise into night,
As I contemplate, the moon rises and sheds light on my journey.
Illuminating with its light
Enlightening me with its glow and guiding me towards my destination.
My thoughts they turn in time and place,
My mind reflects on past occurrences and current circumstances that steer me in the right direction.
Illuminated Word of grace
Divine knowledge of grace is revealed to me and guides my way.
Where I will find the way divine
Discovered the path that leads me to the divine.
A throne in sight that blazes like eternal dawn
A throne that radiates light, resembling the break of the day that lasts forever.
The mystery of Father, Spirit and the Son,
The enigma of the entities in the Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.
The Three in One
The three entities are unified as one being in God's image.
And precious stones of colours bright
The magnificent jewels in brilliant colors
Eagle and calf, lion and man,
The eagle, calf, lion, and human representations of various values converge at the throne.
Do meet around the throne of light
These entities meet at the throne of light.
In colours rich that last through time
The splendid colors that persist throughout time.
In patterns of the Spirit's mind
The patterns inspired by the mind of the Holy Spirit.
Illuminated Word divine
The divine word has been revealed to me and is leading my way.
Contributed by Oliver R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Debbie Clare
This album always reminds me of my trip to Iona in 1993. I put some of the tracks as backing to my video of the visit there...very atmospheric indeed.
Fiona Thompson
This music started my journey towards the Living God ❤ Beautiful
John ship
❤
g galaxy
Beautiful, thank you!
Lile Fisher
💜