'Heaven's Bright Sun' by Iona

This is an album that’s been lurking on my shelves for a good long time. I bought it when I was about 14, at a point in my life when I was listening almost exclusively to Christian music (‘OK Computer’ rescued me from this eventually). Iona were a big name in the genre at the time – their Celtic sound made them largely immune from the criticism routinely thrown at other Christian artists, and they have a reasonable amount of crossover appeal and respect, if not genuine mainstream success.

I’ve not listened to ‘Heaven’s Bright Sun’ for a long time. At the time I bought it, I remember having a number of opinions that still ring true. There’s no doubting the talent within the band. The standard of musicianship is extremely high, and the mix works well. There are times when the music drifts for too long into noodling territory, but when the different strands of the band come together, they make a beautiful sound. Iona’s vocalist (I can’t remember her name, and I’m in hospital with no internet connection. Matt, you’re probably the only person who’ll ever read this, and you know how to use Wikipedia) has a glorious voice which grounds the music behind her – this album is at its best when her voice is allowed to genuinely drive the music. During ‘Treasure’, for instance, or ‘Irish Day’.

The thing I most remember about listening to Iona half a lifetime ago is the feeling that I wasn’t really ready for them. They were too mature, too sophisticated for me – I imagined that if I returned to them five years down the line, I’d appreciate them more. Fifteen years on, I feel the same way, which probably says more about me than it does about them.