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The Afro Celt Sound System is a musical group which fuses modern dance rhythms (trip-hop, techno, etc.) with Celtic and African influences. It was formed by Grammy-nominated producer-guitarist Simon Emmerson, and is considered to be somewhat of a world music supergroup, often having a wide range of guest artists on their albums.

Their albums have been released through Peter Gabriel's Real World Records, and they are also reportedly^{[citation needed]} the best-selling band on the label, only exceeded in sales by Gabriel himself, and their striking live performances have often become the highlights of the WOMAD concert festivals. They signed a contract with Real World obliged to release five albums, of which the 2005 release Anatomic is the last; at this writing it is unclear what path the band will take in the future.

In 2003 they changed their name to the simpler Afrocelts; however, two of their latest albums, Pod, a compilation of new mixes of songs from the first four albums, and their fifth studio album Anatomic uses the long and familiar form. This decision is apparently affected by the fact that they seem much more well-known as Afro Celt Sound System around the world.

[edit] Band members

When Afro Celts began their musical journey in the mid-1990s during the Real World Recording Week the difference between a guest artist and a band member was virtually non-existent, though as time has passed a following combination of people is most often associated with the name Afro Celt Sound System: (Please note that the new release Anatomic only lists Simon, James, Iarla and Martin as regulars)

1. Simon Emmerson (guitar, production)
2. N'Faly Kouyate (kora, balaphon, ngoma drums, vocals)
3. Moussa Sissokho (djembe, talking drum)
4. James McNally (Bodhrán, accordion, whistle)
5. Johnny Kalsi (Dhol Foundation bandleader; Dhol)
6. Iarla Ó Lionáird (vocals)
7. Emer Mayock (tin whistle, flute, uillean pipes)
8. Martin Russell (keyboards, producing, engineering, programming)

Others Who Have Performed with Afro Celt Sound System:

• Peter Gabriel, Robert Plant, Pete Lockett, Sinéad O'Connor, Pina Kollar, Dorothee Munyaneza, Sevara Nazarkhan, Simon Massey, Jesse Cook, Martin Hayes, Eileen Ivers, Mundy, Demba Barry, Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh and Ciarán Tourish of Altan, Ronan Browne, Michael McGoldrick, Myrdhin, Shooglenifty, Mairead Nesbitt, Davy Spillane, Jonas Bruce, Heather Nova, Julie Murphy and Ayub Ogada.

[edit] Discography

1. Volume 1: Sound Magic (1996)
2. Volume 2: Release (1999)
3. Volume 3: Further in Time (2001)
4. Seed (2003)
5. Pod (2004)
6. Volume 5: Anatomic (2005)

They also made the soundtrack for the PC game Magic & Mayhem released in 1998.

[edit] External links

• Afro Celts on Real World Records
• An Afro Celts Fan Website
• Afro Celts' MySpace
• Afro Celts on Discogs
• Afro Celt Sound System on Global Village Idiot