For those not in the know, Dave Bainbridge, co-founder of Iona, released his latest solo work on November 23rd, 2021 entitled To The Far Away (via Open Sky Records).

Bainbridge, who has toured the world and released 13 critically acclaimed albums, has had an incredible multi-faceted career as a solo artist, keyboardist, guitarist, bouzouki player, composer, improviser, producer, arranger and sound mixer, which has led him successfully into many musical genres.

1. Sea Gazer (6:12)
2. Girl and the Magical Sky (8:00)
3. Rain and Sun (4:12)
4. Clear Skies (6:21)
5. Ghost Light (14:13)
6. Cathedral Thinkers (3:09)
7. To Gain the Ocean (4:07)
8. As Night Falls (1:52)
9. Infinitude (Region of the Stars) (6:48)
10. To The Far Away (4:43)
11. Speed Your Journey (4:29)
12. Fells Point (2:58)
13. Something Astonishing (4:18)

This musically delicious smorgasbord of musical influences, all superbly crafted and expertly brought together opens on the atmospheric soundscape of Sea Gazer and the Renaissance faire, Celtic-imbibed tale within Girl and the Magical Sky and follows those up with the beautiful instrumental Rain and Sun, the melodically orchestrated Clear Skies, the Pink Floydesque embodiment of the fourteen minute opus Ghost Light is most definitely a stand out moment, and then comes the dulcet piano work that threads through Cathedral Thinkers.

Next up on this blended album of spiritual music along with Bainbridge’s Celtic, progressive, rock, folk and classical influences, is the vibrancy of a tale told within To Gain the Ocean (which also showcases Iain Hornal’s vocals) and the short, but sweet instrumental As Night Falls, which are in turn backed by the warmly cinematic scope of Infinitude (Region of the Stars), the instrumental title track To The Far Away, the album rounding out on the ELPesque Speed Your Journey, the guitar soloing instrumental Fells Point, coming to a close on the softly captivating orchestrations found within the atmospheric Something Astonishing.

Featuring:
Dave Bainbridge / many instruments
Sally Minnear / vocals
Iain Hornal / vocals
Troy Donockley / high & low whistles, uilleann pipes, Cumbrian voices
Frank van Essen / drums, solo violin, ensemble violins & violas
Jon Poole / fretted & fretless basses
Jonas Pap / cello
Nigel Cameron / whistles
Julie Cameron-Hall / violin
Martin Nolan / whistles

Co-founder of Celtic progressive/folk/rock/band IONA, with whom he toured the world and released 13 critically acclaimed albums, Dave’s multi-faceted career as a solo artist, keyboardist, guitarist, bouzouki player, composer, improviser, producer, arranger and sound mixer has led him into many musical genres and work with numerous artists including Strawbs, Lifesigns, Troy Donockley, Jack Bruce, Buddy Guy, Nick Beggs, Gloria Gaynor, Moya Brennan, Robert Fripp, Phil Keaggy, Paul Jones, The Norman Beaker Band, Damian Wilson, Nick Fletcher, ‘Snake’ Davis, Adrian Snell, PP Arnold, Mollie Marriott, Dave Kerzner and many others (phew!).

Dave Bainbridge has now released four solo albums: Veil of Gossamer (2004), Celestial Fire (2014), The Remembering (2016) and To The Far Away (2021).

To The Far Away [Official Promo]

Official Purchase Link

Official Website

Dave Bainbridge @ Facebook