|  The Afro Celt Sound System has now shortened its name, with Seed acknowledging that the metamorphosis into a fully functioning band has now been completed. Since forming in 1995, producer-guitarist Simon Emmerson's remarkably stable gathering has become strongly identified with the whole global, hippy, ambient rave culture. The only problem is that that's become something of a dated concept, musically. For their fourth album, the Afrocelts are given a homogenised production that smoothes all their diverse elements down into a global composite, removing any spiky protuberances. For an album that's largely the product of acoustic musicianship, it sounds remarkably one-dimensional in terms of its middle-ground textures. Space is lacking between each instrument, producing a thick wall of sound. The band's previous album, Volume 3: Further in Time, featured guest vocals from Peter Gabriel and Robert Plant, but now the band's regular singers are given prominence. Iarla O Lionaird's vocals hover in the heavenly realms, while N'Faly Kouyate operates at a more earthly, earthy level. There's still no shortage of exuberant instrumental guests, with flamenco guitar by Jesse Cook, a duet vocal for the Brazilian Nina Miranda and Irish fiddling from Martin Hayes and Eileen Ivers. "The Other Side" pulses swiftly, built around a frenetic drum work-out, and "Deep Channel" has a liquid bassline, with Emer Maycock's uillean pipes flitting around its trouncing beats. Sadly though, the epic "Rise Above It" ends up being derailed by guest singer Mundy's Bono-like straining. --Martin Longley.Listen to Samples.
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|  Afro Celt Sound System - Volume 3: Further in Time: Original Release Date: June 19, 2001, This album has to be heard to be believed, absolutely inspiring. The fusion, syncopation and pure excellence smacks you in the face so hard that you just have to sit up and listen. Principal selling points of this newest release are cameos by simpatico rock legends Peter Gabriel and Robert Plant, both of whom gamely croon in their respective trademark styles over custom-designed sonic backdrops (vaguely South African for Gabriel's "When You're Falling," vaguely Moroccan for Plant's "Life Begin Again"). Listen to Samples.
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The Afro-Celt Sound System brings together top-ranked musicians including traditional Irish vocalist Iarla O'Lionard, uilleann pipers Davy Spillane (Moving Hearts) and Ronan Browne, whistle player James McNally (the Pogues), Kenyan nyatiti player Ayub Ogada and Baaba Maal band members Kauwding Cissakho and Massamba Diop. Jo Bruce, the son of British bassist/vocalist Jack Bruce (Cream), rounds out the group on keyboards and electronic programming. Several tracks on the band's debut album, produced by Grammy-nominated producer Simon Emmerson, featured members of Shoonglenifty on mandolin, bongos, banjo, guitar and fiddle. Released initially on the EMD/Real World label, Volume 1 was issued in the U.S. by Caroline Records. They made their U.S. concert debut in July 1997. Their second album, Volume 2: Release, was finally issued in 1999 by Real World. ~ Craig Harris, All Music Guide.
For further details visit their website at: www.afrocelts.com
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