Afro Celt Sound System | |
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Background information | |
Also known as | ACSS, Afrocelts |
Origin | London, United Kingdom |
Genres | Ethnic electronica, worldbeat, Celtic fusion, Afrobeat |
Years active | 1995–present |
Labels | Real World Records, EEC Records, Six Degrees Records |
Members |
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Past members | |
Website | afroceltsoundsystem |
Afro Celt Sound System is a European and African group who fuse electronic music with traditional Gaelic and West African music. Afro Celt Sound System was formed in 1995 by producer-guitarist Simon Emmerson, and feature a wide range of guest artists.[3] In 2003, they temporarily changed their name to Afrocelts before reverting to their original name.
Their albums have been released through Peter Gabriel's Real World Records,[4] and they have frequently performed at WOMAD festivals worldwide. Their sales on the label are exceeded only by Gabriel himself.[citation needed] Their recording contract with Real World was for five albums, of which Volume 5: Anatomic was the last.[5]
After a number of festival dates in 2007, the band went on hiatus. In 2010, they regrouped to play a number of shows (including a return to WOMAD),[6] and released a remastered retrospective titled Capture.[7]
On 20 May 2014, Afro Celt Sound System announced the release of the album Born.[8] In January 2016, a posting on their website revealed that due to a dispute with Emmerson, who announced his departure from the band in 2015, there were two active versions of the band, one led by Emmerson and another with a separate line-up headed by James McNally and Martin Russell. Emmerson's version of the band released the album The Source in 2016.[9] The dispute ended on 21 December 2016, with an announcement on social media.
The band released their seventh studio album, Flight, on 23 November 2018.[10][11][12]