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",
The River Flows
Iona Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hands that toil until the night grows old
Pure devotion of a faithful heart
That knows Your Spirit
And the river flows
Through eternity
Turning the pages the Light cannot die
Down through the ages the Truth will survive
Pages of eternal mystery
Where the Spirit knows what the eye cannot see
Images of Earth and Heaven
Mysteriously drawn together
And the river flows
Through eternity
Down through the ages the Truth will survive
Turning the pages the Light cannot die
Down through the ages the Truth will survive
The lyrics of Iona's song "The River Flows" describe the never-ending flow of a spiritual river that represents the eternal truth that endures through the ages. The river is a symbol of the Word of God that nourishes and purifies everything it touches. The song begins by alluding to the concept of faith transcending hardship, as people carry out their daily toils with "pure devotion of a faithful heart". The river flows through eternity, cleansing and redeeming all who come into contact with it.
As the river flows, it carries with it "pages of eternal mystery" that contain hidden truths and esoteric knowledge that can only be revealed to those who have attuned themselves to the Spirit. The river represents the interconnectedness and unity of all things and the ability of the Universe to harmonize and balance itself. The lyrics suggest that the river is the key to unlocking the mysteries of the Universe and understanding the deeper workings of life.
The chorus repeats the same mantra-like phrase that the river flows through eternity, emphasizing the cyclical nature of time, and the concept of permanence in the face of change. The song concludes with a reiteration of the idea that the truth will always survive and that the light of the Spirit can never die. The song overall urges listeners to recognize the unbreakable connection between themselves, the Spirit, and the eternal river that flows through time.
Line by Line Meaning
Throwing light into a darkened cold
Bringing light to a place that was once dark and cold
Hands that toil until the night grows old
Working hard until the night is over
Pure devotion of a faithful heart
Showing commitment and loyalty with a pure heart
That knows Your Spirit
Connected to the divine spirit
And the river flows
The constant flow of life
Through eternity
Through past, present, and future
Down through the ages the Truth will survive
The truth will continue to exist throughout time
Turning the pages the Light cannot die
As time passes, the light of truth cannot be extinguished
Pages of eternal mystery
Mysterious and unknown secrets of life
Where the Spirit knows what the eye cannot see
The spirit knows things beyond what the eyes can perceive
Images of Earth and Heaven
Visions of both the earthly and divine realms
Mysteriously drawn together
Joined together in a mysterious way
Contributed by Gabriel E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Todd Anderson
The Book of Kells is a true masterpiece of Celtic illumination. The eponymous Iona album is a magnificent album full of emotions, moods and atmospheres. Just wonderful and ethereal. And the river flows....
GilsTestChannel
Flawless!
Strumming Cat
Amen
DayAna
linda
Ronald Hoerstmann
wenn man das live miterlebt, schließ man die Augen und ist ganz weit, weit weg....
Allexia Knight
Thank you.
charlotte crofutt
and the river flows!
Stu Stig
flows from eternity to eternity
Ronald Hoerstmann
Dein Leben ist wie ein Fluß, jung und wild wie von der Quelle, Steine werden im Weg sein, mitten im Leben und endlich fließt Du ruhiger und verschwindest in das Meer der Ewigkeit.
Ronald Hoerstmann
............the tim goes by........you can't stop