Iona : Music From In The Footsteps Of Colm Cille (2023)

"Anyone who has listened to the Scottish master fiddlers of our time is familiar with Paul Anderson and his fiddle sound and style: rich, robust and yet tender and ”singing”. Anderson’s Iona is a beautiful, almost spiritual, chain of mostly quite brief and low-key musical moments, with poetry written and recited by Francy Devine, appearing between tunes a few times. Paul Anderson composed the music for Iona for an art project about the life and legacy of a certain Colm Cille, who later history knows better as St. Columba. I presume this context may have immersed the artist in the actual history of the saint and the Abbey, at least the music here feels… internalized, for want of a better word, as if the story of Iona is expressed, through Paul Anderson’s mastery and persona, in music. It is truly precious. Music for your ears and your soul, whatever your faith. Bless you, Mr. Anderson." (FolkNotes)