 | | Reviews | | |  AFRO CELTS
Seed
Real World CDRWDJ111
Global-beat pioneers Afro Celt Sound System change their name and go organic with this latest offering, seven years after their West African rhythms, Irish traditional music and cutting-edge dance grooves first assaulted our senses. Three volumes of Sound System albums later, they're liberated from the domination of machine-defined programming and feel much more like a real band. Core members remain as does the bedrock African/Irish mix, but a whole new level of songwriting comes to the fore in the aptly-named Seed, burgeoning with new beginnings.
It's dreamily meditative, it's sweepingly orchestral, it's beaty and dancey, it's flecked with occasional echoes of Pink Floyd (a sort of musical osmosis since their studio was once owned by the band, perhaps?). Synergistic blendings of slide guitar and uilleann pipes, kora and fiddle, jigs and jives burst out of the grooves in an unbelievable multi-layered swirl of sound. Further global influences from Brazilian singer Nina Miranda and flamenco guitarist Jesse Cook (among others) add to the magic and diversity.
If you've thus far missed this band and think its musical components seem an unlikely combination, do your ears and preconceptions a favour and buy this album. Confession: I previously considered ACSS to be just superior background music, something to potter cheerily and rhythmically about the house to. Seed's an ongoing education joyously teaching otherwise.
Mel McClellan - March 2003
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 I heard the Afro Celts by accident, from the Cambridge Folk Festival. Normally, I listen to high classical music, but there was something subtle, layered and original about this music that made me look out for them. I'm not the only 70 year old who has crossed over to a new genre - friends to whom I've recommended the group, love it, dancing to its African beats as they prepare breakfasts for their B & B. It has led the way to my listening to more World Music. What an exceptionally talented group of musicians - I discover more layered subtleties each time I listen. My favourite is their Vol. 3 - much recommended for musical stimulation and relaxation.
Mercia Last, Chichester
I've just got onto this site and am surprised that there's not been a single posting..until now. Guess that's an indication of how marginal this kind of music is. That's big shame as there's nothing else out there that's as inventive and different. 'Seed' is one of the best examples of 'global fusion' or whatever you want to call it, mixing haunting ambient tunes in a Celtic stylee and heavy dance numbers featuring brilliant African drumming. People of Britain. Bin your lame Norah Jones and Dido CD s and open up your ears to something different.
Alex Cutelli, Gloucester
Afro celt are surperb heard them years ago over in Ireland, never get any air time here, why not. If you havent heard them before do yourself a favour have a listen you will lover it.
Monica, hanwell west london | | | | | | |  |
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Folk & Acoustic
