is Celtic prog Folk (and Christian) artist IONA's breakout album though it is their second release.
The distinguished crystalline voice of Joanne Hogg is on full display for all to hear, thanks to the
fairly sparse instrument arrangements--especially in prolonged intros and outros. The other half
of the band's core, Dave Bainbridge is also present on keys and guitars. This band seems to
always be comprised of members who are all virtuosos on their respective instruments and this
album is no exception. What changes in the future, however, is that bass/Chapman stick player
Nick Beggs (KAJAGOOGOO), percussionist Teri Bryant and reeds player David Fitzgerald move
out to make room for future mainstays Phil Barker (bass), Frank Van Essen (drums, percussion,
& violins), and Ullilean pipe and whistle virtuoso and future star in his own right, Troy Donockley--
who happens to make his debut as a guest musician here. Though the synth washes are full and
rich throughout and the percussion/rhythm team is at full power, The Book of Kells is a much
more sparsely instrumented album than Iona's successive releases, but there are always plenty
of gorgeous and glorious instrumental sections throughout all Iona albums. Also, as might be
surmised from the album's title, which is is taken from the famous illustrated Christian texts of the
New Testament that was created around 800 AD and then preserved in Ireland's Abbey of Kells,
this is a concept album.
What results from this mix of personnel is an album with such seamlessness, such depth and
complexity of textures, as to astound even me who had already been a tried and true Iona fan for
several years before going back into their early catalogue to discover this one. I didn't think that
any Iona album could be better than Open Sky but the amazingly intense whole-goup focus on
this concept album may have done it. What's more, this music and presentation is to my ears a
prime example of all that is essential and at the core of prog: great story, great instrumental
performances, great songwriting drawing from many traditions, great album art, all gelled into a
powerful display of great human emotion. "Matthew - The Man" (11:53) (10/10) may be the best
prog epic of the year but, heck! The whole album is like one continuous prog epic! Amazing!
Beautiful! Another piece of man-made art that makes me proud to be human.
BrufordFreak |5/5 |
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