Celtic Prog Rock Pioneers IONA to Release 17 Disc Box Set THE BOOK OF IONA Featuring Hours of Unreleased Material

This amazing 17 disc set, captures not only all the studio albums from IONA but features almost the same amount of music again on a Companion Disk for each album. These companion discs, which Dave Bainbridge has personally overseen the assembly of are included; rare and unreleased studio recordings, different mixes, original demo recordings from when the songs were first written, plus new (mainly instrumental) recordings of many Iona songs featuring all Iona band members from each era of the bands history. Below is the provisional track listing to the “companion disks”. Additional tracks still being added at the time of writing.

In addition to the extra audio content of the box, also included is:
24 page A4 Booklet (full of previously unseen photos of the band and recently written sleeve notes to accompany each disc) Signed and Numbered certificate Reproduction memorabilia, Reproduction publicity photos, Poster.

Watch the promotional video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzghw80b39k

IONA COMPANION AUDIO DISK
Turning Tide (remastered from original 2 track DAT master tape)
Flight of the Wild Goose 1 (Dave’s original demo)
Flight of the Wild Goose (original album version – remastered from original 2 track mixtape).
The Island (Jo’s original demo)
The Island (original album version – remastered from original 2 track mixtape)
White Sands (Dave’s original demo)
Dancing on the Wall (original demo)
Dancing on the Wall (original album version – remastered from original 2 track mixtape)
A’Machair (original album version – remastered from original 2 track mixtape)
Vision of Naran (original demo)
Vision of Naran (remastered from original 2 track DAT master tape)
Beijing (Dave original demo)
Iona (Jo’s original demo)
Iona (remastered from original 2 track DAT master tape)
Trilogy (first Iona studio demo version, which includes some sections not used on the album)
Here I Stand (original version with piano)
Columcille (with Electric guitar playing the melody!)

THE BOOK OF KELLS COMPANION AUDIO DISK
Kells Opening Theme (original demo)
Revelation 1(early demo)
Man – Vocal section 1 (demo, wordless vocal)
Man – Vocal section 2 (demo, wordless vocal)
Tree of Life (which became Mark the Lion)
The River Flows (early demo)
Faithful Heart (remastered from original 2 track mixtape)
Virgin & Child (solo harp version)
John the Eagle (demo, recorded on the Isle of Mull 1991)
Kells Theme (Dave original demo)
Kells Theme Jig! (Dave original demo)
Eternity (Kensington Temple heavenly choir with new keyboards)
Warrior of the Wasteland (studio recording with additional overdubs)
Lost Tribe (demo March 1991)
Harp & Whistle idea (demo March 1991)
Watching You (demo).Sax / Keys Improvisation (demo September 1990, plus new additional keys).
My Town (studio demo with new additional overdubs)
Hard Way to Learn (demo with Frank violin – recorded on the Isle of Mull. in 1991)
Reilig Orain (demo)
Whistle & Keys Atmospheric (recorded on the Isle of Mull 1991)

BEYOND THESE SHORES COMPANION AUDIO DISK Complete running order to be confirmed, but including:
Bird of Heaven (alternate vocal section – demo early 1993)
Bird of Heaven (2007 remix)
Machrie Moor (solo harp version)
Burning Like Fire (rehearsal, Acton, London, early 1993)
Beachy Head (rehearsal, Acton, London, early 1993)
Murlough Bay (Jo’s original demo, early 1993)
Frippertronics (with Robert Fripp)

JOURNEY INTO THE MORN COMPANION AUDIO DISK Complete running order to be confirmed, but including:
Bi-Se I Mo Shuil Part1 (Dave’s original demo Feb 1995)
Everything Changes (original completely different version, recorded during Kells album sessions)
Journey into the Morn (2007 new arrangement & recording, featuring Roine Stolt)
Frippertronics (with Robert Fripp)
Moya Brennan & Joanne Hogg Vocal Loops

OPEN SKY COMPANION AUDIO DISK Complete running order to be confirmed, but including:
Woven Cord (rehearsal take, including slow section not on the album version. Recorded at Joanne’s, Ireland 10/98)
Wave after Wave (Dave & Jo’s original demo Otley 3/99)
Hinba (Jo’s original demo)
Songs of Ascent Part 1 (Dave’s early demo)
Lament for the World (Dave & Jo’s demo of this piece)
Jo Hymn Tune idea (demo)
A Dhia Gheigil (Angel of God) (Beautiful vocal version of this track, originally considered for inclusion on the album)
Jo Song of Hope Vocal loops (from Open Sky album studio recording)
I Cannot Understand (Dave & Jo song idea)
Columba Poem song idea (Jo & Dave improvising around Columba’s 6th century creation poem)
The Spacious Firmament (Jo & Dave working on a song idea which ended up on Jo’s first solo album)
Voices (Jo Layered Vocals)
Vocal Harmonies & Keys (nice layering of Joanne’s vocals over Dave’s chord progression)


THE CIRCLING HOUR COMPANION AUDIO DISK Complete running order to be confirmed, but including:
How Wonderful (original Jo & Dave demos, recorded late ’90’s in Ireland)
Spirit of God (this version recorded in 2006 for BBC’s Songs of Praise)
Almighty Father Who Dost Give (this version recorded in 2006 for BBC’s Songs of Praise)

ANOTHER REALM COMPANION AUDIO DISK Complete running order to be confirmed, but including:
All that we Have ever dreamed (recorded in July 2011. Troy plays low whistle on this demo, Jo piano, Dave keys & mixing)
Jo & Dave Improvisation (Spontaneous improvisation, recorded at Open Sky Studio on 11th January 2011)
Don’t Look Back (recorded October 2009 at Joanne’s, this was the original demo of what became White Horse)
Dave & Martin Improvisation 1 (Spontaneous improvisation, recorded 14th December 2010)
Gotta Lift Our Eyes Up (recorded in October 2009 at Joanne’s, another song considered for ‘Another Realm’)
Dave & Martin Improvisation 2Valley of Decision (recorded in October 2009 at Joanne’s, another song considered for ‘Another Realm’)
Dave & Martin Improvisation Pipes FreeWhat a Day (recorded in February 2010 at Joanne’s, another track considered for ‘Another Realm’)
Dave & Martin Improvisation Pipes Hymn-likeAnd the Angels Dance (single mix)
Slow Air ( Martin & Dave – Recorded in February 2010 at Joanne’s)

THE SOUND WORLD OF IONA Complete running order to be confirmed, but including:
Featuring newly recorded, mainly instrumental tracks, with contributions from all past Iona band members
White Sands (Nick Beggs & Dave Bainbridge)
Shell of Speech (Tim Harries with Dave Bainbridge. Based on sound samples from the Journey into the Morn album)
I Will Give My Love and Apple (Dave Bainbridge solo piano version)
Edge of the World (Mike Haughton & Dave Bainbridge)
Air from France (Martin Nolan & Dave Bainbridge)
Luke – the Calf (Dave Bainbridge guitar version)
Táimse im Chodladh  (Martin Nolan & Dave Bainbridge)
Today (Dave Bainbridge solo piano version)
Beyond These Shores (with special guest Sally Minnear)
Beijing (widescreen remix)
Plus other new recordings tbc, featuring David Fitzgerald, Terl Bryant, Frank Van Essen, Troy Donockley, Martin Neil, Phil Barker & Sally Minnear

To pre-order:https://www.musicglue.com/iona/products/the-book-of-iona
For more information:http://www.iona.uk.com/
Formed in 1989, IONA took their name from the small island off the west coast of Scotland. From the beginning, their aim was to write spiritual, atmospheric, yet uplifting music that would stir the emotions, weaving complex patterns that echo the intricate knot work of the great Celtic artists. Often inspired by the great figures of the Celtic Golden Age such as Columba, Aidan, Brendan and Patrick, IONA’s music is as timeless as the message that reaches out to us across the centuries.

Uniquely combining rock / folk / progressive / ethnic and ambient elements with the crystalline voice of Joanne Hogg as their focus, IONA created ‘a blaze of colours and textures…all the sounds fusing into a single, yearning, heartfelt beautiful cry.’

IONA built up a formidable reputation as a great live band with their incredible musicianship and disarmingly humorous banter and were noted for their timeless and innovative studio recordings. They released 7 acclaimed studio albums, four live albums (three doubles, plus one with The All Souls Orchestra), a beautifully illustrated 4 cd box set and two DVDs. Their last album, the 2cd ‘Edge of the World – Live in Europe’ was released in 2013.

Five years on from the bands last live performance and the decision to cease touring and recording “for the foreseeable future” comes ‘The Book of Iona’, the first of a series of Iona box set releases from Gonzo Multimedia. Including all the bands official studio albums, ‘The Book of Iona’ also features companion disks unique to each album, containing previously unreleased songs, original demos, alternate mixes and much more, all personally collated by founder member and band producer Dave Bainbridge. On top of this is included a cd of newly recorded (mainly instrumental) versions of Iona songs featuring performances from all previous Iona band members.  

The band are thrilled that Iona’s music will once again be available to reach new listeners in search of innovative and emotive words and music that touches the soul. The ’wild goose’ is indeed flying again.