Iona, Branching Out (Barnaby Productions, 2003)
Although they were established in 1986 and have five previous albums to their credit, this is the first time I have heard of Iona in the U.K.
Iona is five strong Celtic group based in Washington, D.C., U.S.A. On this recording they are Bernard Argent (Irish flute, whistles, doumbek, egg and vocals), Chuck Lawhorn (bass guitar, low D whistle, washboard, doumbek and vocals), Bob Mitchell (Highland great pipes, Scottish small pipes and tambourine), Barbara Tresidder-Ryan (bouzouki, guitar and vocals) and Susan Walmsley (feet -- dancing). I understand from their latest press release that Bob Mitchell has been replaced by Ian Lawther on the pipes.
The songs and tunes on this album are picked from various sources found in England, Ireland, Wales and Breton that have been transplanted to the U.S.A.; so, as they say, they are 'Branching Out'. Overall, they offer a slightly more traditional sound than the usual Celtic groups' approach that is around at the moment. I found it quite refreshing, and I think you will, too.
I have to say that when I first listened to album, and the first track 'Qu'aves-vous, Oui, Belle Blonde?' is in French, and the second 'Tha Mi Sgith / Mile Marbh' Aisg Air A'Ghaol' is in Gaelic mouth music, I thought I was in for one of those albums that you have to be in the right mood to enjoy properly. But I needn't have worried, as it soon settled down and got my juices flowing. A nice arrangement of 'Sweet William / Muir of Ord', teamed with 'Barleys Reel' on the pipes, comes next, sung in English this time. Most of the other traditional songs on the album have been teamed with a jig or reel to make them more entertaining. I was pleased that they have kept the tempo at a sensible, realistic speed, even for the set of tunes 'Dicks Gossip's / The Wind that Shakes the Barley / Masons Apron / Clumsy Lover' at track five.
Barbara is a talented singer, with what sounds like a trained voice to me. She makes a good job of 'Laridenn / Dacw 'Nghariad y Lawr yn y Berilian' (There's my love down in the orchard), sung in Welsh. She even sings another song, 'An Hwyseth' (The Lark) in an old Cornish language (Kernewek). You don't hear this very often these days. I understand it died out as a spoken language years ago, but is currently undergoing a revival.
The last track is an amusing arrangement of 'Sally Gardens / Hills of Connemara / Willy Davie/ Miss Girdle', a mixture of Irish, then Scottish reels. . . .
I must say the album comes nicely packaged in an expanding cardboard cover, a nice quality touch. So if you are up for some good, well-played Celtic music that 'branches out' from the usual, this is for you.
A Web site for Iona can be found here.
