Afro Celt Sound System

Afro Celt Sound System
Afro Celt Soundsystem at TFF.Rudolstadt 2010. L.t.R: Johnny Kalsi, Simon Emmerson, Iarla Ó Lionáird, Ian Markin, N´Faly Kouyate, Emer Mayock, James McNally, Moussa Sissokho.
Afro Celt Soundsystem at TFF.Rudolstadt 2010. L.t.R: Johnny Kalsi, Simon Emmerson, Iarla Ó Lionáird, Ian Markin, N´Faly Kouyate, Emer Mayock, James McNally, Moussa Sissokho.
Background information
Also known asACSS, Afrocelts
OriginLondon, United Kingdom
GenresEthnic electronica, worldbeat, Celtic fusion, Afrobeat
Years active1995–present
LabelsReal World Records, EEC Records
Members
Past members
Websiteafroceltsoundsystem.com

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]

  1. ^ Peter Gabriel, Real World Records (17 March 2023). "Simon Emmerson (1956–2023)". realworldrecords.com. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  2. ^ "Simon Emmerson (12 March 1956 – 13 March 2023)". folkradio.co.uk. 15 March 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  3. ^ Harris, Graid. "Afro Celt Sound System Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 18 November 2010.
  4. ^ "Afro Celt Sound System". Real World Records.
  5. ^ Mann, Ian. "Review of Capture". TheJazzMann.com. Retrieved 18 November 2010.
  6. ^ "News » Real World Records – World music label". Real World Records. 19 September 2013. Archived from the original on 22 June 2011. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  7. ^ "World music label". Real World Records. 19 September 2013. Archived from the original on 10 February 2011. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  8. ^ "Afro Celt Sound System". Afro Celt Sound System. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  9. ^ "Afro Celt Sound System – Review". The Guardian. May 2016.
  10. ^ "Take Flight with Afro Celt Sound System". Folking.com. 12 September 2018. Archived from the original on 17 January 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  11. ^ McFadyen, Neil (24 November 2018). "Afro Celt Sound System: Flight (Album Review) | Folk Radio UK". Folk Radio UK – Folk Music Magazine. Archived from the original on 17 January 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  12. ^ Spencer, Neil (25 November 2018). "Afro Celt Sound System: Flight review – unflagging spirit and invention". The Observer. Archived from the original on 9 July 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2020.