Afro Celt Sound System
Volume 2: Release
(Real World/Virgin)




20th Century

Ambient

Drum And Bass

Electronic / Experimental / Industrial

Industrial Rhythm

Techno

Trip Hop, Breaks, Dub, World-Fusion

(Very) Alternative

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    This is the second full-length release by the band born in a Real World recording workshop, combining top performers in Breton, Irish and West African music. Like Transglobal Underground or Loop Guru, the foundation of the Afro Celt sound is the bottom-heavy dub-funk bass lines (including one from a guest, Youth on "Hypnotica"). Over this are laid acoustic percussion from several traditions, including former Pogue James McNally on bodhran, master musician Moussa Sissokho on talking drum and Nusrat remixer Johnny Kalsi on tabla. With the addition of funky breaks and the occasional bit of beat programming, tracks like "Lovers Of Light" take their uilleann pipes or kora melodies into kickin' contemporary dance areas. And to sweeten things are their remarkable singers, Iarla O Lionaird and N'Faly Kouyate who blend so well over the dance cuts and softer sections of tracks like "Eireann" and "Amber." Also joining them is her holiness Sinead O'Connor, who lends her voice to the stunning opener "Release." Initial copies of the CD come a bonus CD-ROM remix game.