I\'m A Badass Caption: I can haz links, style or anything that is valid markup :)

CD/DVD Releases: Iona's Joanne Hogg Releases Two Solo Albums

Posted on Sunday, December 21 @ 04:00:00 UTC by nightowl

Iona writes: Though there is currently not a new Iona album in the pipeline, the next few months will see several solo / collaborative albums releases featuring band members which will undoubtedly be of interest to you. More on these very soon, but for now the Kingsway label have released 3 albums of particular interest to Iona fans. Not one, but TWO brand new solo projects from Iona's singer / songwriter Joanne Hogg, and a collaborative album from Nick Fletcher and Iona's Dave Bainbridge. Details on all 3 albums are below:"

Joanne has been busy over the past year or two putting together not one, but TWO new solo projects, both of which are now available. Jo discusses the background behind them here:

"Hi everyone, Jo here! Well, I've finally come out of hibernation ... well, not really hibernation ... more of a season of seeking the presence of God, worshipping. and creativity! I've ended up completing 2 albums, both around the same time, which was not my original plan but has just sorta happened that way. The 2 projects are very different so I'll tell you a bit about them and hopefully you'll be intrigued and inspired to get both of them!



"The first album is entitled Raphael's Journey. Will tell you the story behind the title in a bit, but first the concept behind the album. Many years ago, before I became a mother, somebody suggested doing a lullaby project and so I set about trying to write some lullabies with a friend of mine. Somehow, I couldn't really get into it and although we ended up with a bunch of potential lullabies, it never really came to anything. Time passed, and I became a mother ... and then time really seemed to pass me by, very quickly. The inspiration was certainly there to write lullabies, but not the time, or the energy.

"In the first year after my first son was born, I only wrote one song ... which is on this album. As a parent, I soon began to realise that it's more the grown ups who need lullabies! Life seemed so hectic ... so many friends, both those with kids and without, seemed to be constantly dealing with a variety of pressures and stresses, hurts and disappointments. As I began to write again, the album concept in my mind was more of a "lullabies for grown-ups" sort of thing. There is a story in the Book of Samuel in scripture about David playing the harp for the king when he was having a tormenting time. Through David's music, God ministered healing and peace. That is my prayer for this music... that it could somehow bring something of God's tender love, compassion and healing to His children ... kids and grown-ups!

"Around the time of recording final vocals I was reading a book about angels and their ministry. There was mention of an angel named Raphael who is referred to in the Book of Enoch and was believed by some of the early Christian mystics to have been the angel who came and moved the waters of the pool of Bethesda with a healing annointing. Not wanting to delve too much into the theology of it all ... but just to share why the name was in my mind! Around this time, I got a message from a friend late one night asking me to pray for a critically ill baby ... called Raphael. I spent most of that night awake, praying for this baby and asking God if perhaps he could send a mighty angel called Raphael to minister healing to this baby. During the night as I lay thinking about the journey an angel makes on God's command, and also about the journey of this little baby ... the words 'Raphael's Journey' came to mind. It seemed to be the title I had been searching for and over the coming weeks God comfirmed this to me.

"The other thing that is special about this project, is that all the profits from sales of Raphael's Journey will go to charities that help children in extreme poverty. One is called 'Adopt-a Child' working in Guatemala, Albania and Egypt, one is a project called 'The Uganda Jesus Village' which is part of the work of Freshfire Ministries, and another of the projects is Kingsway Music's project called 'Ray of Hope' working in the Amazon.

"NOTE: This is initially only going to be available as a download. This is really to maximise the money generated, so please download this project and encourage others to purchase the download as well. Don't encourage illegal copying!

"Musically, this album is a collection of songs with a few instrumentals. Frank (Van Essen) has been working with me on this for several years not only as producer, but also co-writing and playing. There are beautiful performances from all my mates in Iona, gorgeous string arrangements from Frank, beautiful guest vocals from the amazing Moya Brennan and piano and vocals from myself ? so, please download it and tell others about it. Check out www.raphaelsjourney.com or www.missionworship.com through Kingsway Music."

Personal, the second solo release:

"Oh God I ask that You may grant me the spirit of wisdom and revelation, of insight into mysteries and secrets in the deep and intimate knowledge of You. That I may have the eyes of my heart flooded with light, so that I would know and understand the hope You've called me to embrace. (Ephesians 1 vs 17-18) ... personalised

"Personal is a very different project from anything I've done with Iona and the songs on it came after an intense, prolonged season of seriously seeking to experience the presence of God, of waiting, of questioning, of discovering ... sort of like modern day psalms!

"I was learning to worship Him in a whole new way, just singing and playing for an audience of one. I had no intention of making another album ... but the songs just started to flow.

"Within about 6 weeks, almost all of the tracks were written and I felt a real urgency to record them. We are in a season of global revival and it is being released through lives that have a passion for personal relationship with Jesus ... hearts that are so hungry and desperate for Him that it becomes their primary goal and desire. It's my prayer that this album will impart something of that hunger to seek God.

"Musically, the album is a pretty acoustic affair. It was recorded in a few days with a few wonderful musicians. The songs were tracked live with bass, drums, piano and keyboard and then some atmospheric electric guitar, mandolin. Cello and percussion overdubs added after. Special mention to dear friend Terl Bryant who made the trip to play drums and percussion. Amazing! Also a guest performance from the brilliant Troy Donockley ... no album complete without him! ... no instrumental tracks or long instrumental solos on this one ... just songs.

"I hope you'll enjoy and be blessed through these offerings of music" - Joanne Hogg

Breaking Of The Dawn by Nick Fletcher and Dave Bainbridge:

Released in October 2007, this album has been something of a hidden gem. Nick Fletcher was commissioned by Kingsway Music to produce an album celebrating the work of contemporary hymn writers Stuart Townend and Keith Getty and wanted to create an album that fused orchestral and Celtic influences. Enlisting his friend Dave Bainbridge to record and co-produce the album at Dave's Open Sky Studio as well as arrange many of the tracks, it soon became clear that something special was brewing. Both Dave and Nick were keen to disregard previous versions of Stuart and Keith's songs and instead really get to the essence of the lyrics and set their often haunting or uplifting melodies into completely new instrumental and harmonic frameworks.

The result is some incredibly moving moments, with orchestral sweeps of sound often reminiscent of Vaughan Williams and, of course Iona. In fact Iona co-founder David Fitzgerald can be heard on several tracks, notably the wonderful improvised flute introduction to 'Jesus is Lord'. Like Iona's work, the album contains a mixture of vocal and instrumental tracks, with Scottish singer Yvonne Lyons contributing some spine tinglingly fragile and moving performances.

One huge fan of the album is the legendary US guitarist Phil Keaggy, who commented:

"I love this music. The CD is so glorifying to the Lord! I will play that amazing piece of music on my next Podcast --with your permission. 'O To See The Dawn' in your hands is better than any version I have heard -- annointed." -- Phil

TRACK LISTING

1 - Let The Earth Resound
2 - From The Breaking Of The Dawn (Every Promise)
3 - In Christ Alone
4 - Joy Has Dawned Upon The World
5 - Speak O Lord
6 - O Church Arise
7 - Oh To See The Dawn (The Power Of The Cross)
8 - See What A Morning (Resurrection Hymn)
9 - Jesus Is Lord
10 - My Heart Is Filled With Thankfulness
11 - You're The Word Of God The Father (Across The Lands)
12 - Holy Spirit Living Breath Of God

Follow this link to the Kingsway shop: www.kingsway.co.uk/Shop/Products/85180/Home/CDs/Worship_Leaders/Stuart_Townend/Breaking_of_the_Dawn.aspx

**Alternately all the above albums are available cheaper from the Cross Rhythms store** -- go to direct.crossrhythms.co.uk

PLEASE NOTE THAT NONE OF THESE THREE ALBUMS ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM THE IONA SECURE STORE

[Source: Iona]

Posted in Album Release News