aaamusic | On 06, Jul 2010

Afro Celt Sound System return with Capture, a career-spanning double CD, released by Real World on the 6th of September.

Cherry-picked from the collective’s five acclaimed studio albums, the 25 tracks are divided into songs (Verse) and instrumentals (Chorus). The songs are beautifully re-mastered to lend the sound a new warmth and allow the dynamics to emerge as originally intended.

The album contains their collaborations with Sinead O’Connor, Peter Gabriel, Robert Plant, Dorothee Munyaneza and more.  It also includes tracks featured on soundtracks including Gangs Of New York and Hotel Rwanda.

When Afro Celt Sound System burst onto the music scene some 15 years ago their impact was so instant, so astounding, that it hit like a thunder crack. Here was a band unlike anything else, a band whose fusion of West African rhythms, Irish traditional music and cutting-edge dance grooves battered the senses and unleashed a wellspring of joy and liberation. Festival audiences did a double take then danced like dervishes. Albums flew off the shelves. There were awards, Grammy nominations and star turns on big film soundtracks.

Afro Celt Sound System were the perfect storm: a phenomenon whose confluence of elements swept you away on a journey of light and shade, delicacy and power. When they added diverse new touches – Indian bhangra, Arabic influences, dub reggae, more – they did so seamlessly, in ways that only enhanced their sound and emphasised their openness. A supergroup whose line-up expanded and evolved around four core members (Simon Emmerson, James McNally, Iarla O’Lionaird, Martin Russell), the Afro Celt’s pan-global sound redefined dance music and stumped music critics. They remain defiantly, enigmatically uncategorisable.

Prior to the release Afro Celt Sound System will be playing a number of festivals including WOMAD, (where the band debuted their first album a decade and a half ago).

Following the release of Capture the band will be playing the Barbican, London on the 2nd of November.

Full Tour Details

Thursday 15th July        HebFest, Outer Hebrides – http://www.hebceltfest.com

Sunday 25th July           WOMAD – http://womad.org

Sunday 29th August       Shrewsbury Folk Festival – http://www.shrewsburyfolkfestival.co.uk

Tuesday 2nd November Barbican, London – http://www.barbican.org.uk/music/event-detail.asp?ID=10884

Afro Celt Sound System are:

Simon Emmerson

James McNally

Iarla O’Lionaird

Martin Russell

CAPTURE 1995 – 2010 – Tracklisting

VERSE

1 Lagan

2 Release (featuring Sinead O’Connor)

3 Seed

4 Persistence Of Memory (Rae and Christian Remix)

5 Eireann

6 When You’re Falling (featuring Peter Gabriel)

7 Mother (featuring Dorothee Munyaneza)

8 Further In Time

9 Go On Through (featuring Liam O’Flynn and Pina Kollars)

10 Rise Above It (featuring Mundy and Eileen Ivers)

11 Inion

12 Life Begin Again (featuring Robert Plant)

13 When I Still Needed You (featuring Dorothee Munyaneza)

CHORUS

1 Mojave

2 Deep Channel

3 Colossus

4 Sure-As-Not

5 Urban Aire/Big Cat

6 Whirl-Y-Reel #1

7 Dark Moon (‘Gangs Of New York’ version)

8 Shadowman

9 Lovers Of Light

10 Cyberia (featuring Jesse Cook)

11 Chosen (music from ‘Hotel’ Rwanda’)

12 Whirl Y Reel #2 (featuring Davy Spillane)

Produced and compiled by James McNally & Martin Russell