Iona - Woven Cord

Reviewed by Tony Cummings

Personally, I can't help thinking it was a mistake to make their 'comeback' with an album which will have appeal to those who've followed the Celtic visionaries since they burst onto the scene in the 1990s, but will do nothing to extend their support base. Having said that, 'Woven Chord', recorded live at the Royal Festival Hall with the All Souls Orchestra, certainly has some breathtaking moments with the symphonic elements bringing a new musical breadth to some old favourites and new material. And Joanne's soaringly beautiful voice is as spellbinding as ever. But just as it's the studio albums rather than the live renditions caught on 'Woven Chord' which I keep returning to, I expect that two years on from now we, and Q magazine, and the American CCM industry, and all the legions of lona enthusiasts worldwide, will be waxing lyrical about some new studio creation rather than this spectacularly well played but occasionally overblown album.