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Seed

Afro Celt Sound System | Format: Audio CD

4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)

Price:	�8.92 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
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Product details

Audio CD (24 Mar 2003)
Number of Discs: 1
Label: Real World
ASIN: B00008DAN1
Other Editions: Audio CD | MP3 Download

Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)

Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 42,637 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

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1. Cyberia

2. Seed

3. Nevermore

4. The Other Side

5. Ayub's Song/As You Were

6. Rise

7. Rise Above It

8. Deep Channel

9. All Remains

10. Green (Nevermore Instrumental)

Product Description

Amazon.co.uk Review

The Afro Celt Sound System has now shortened its name, with Seed acknowledging that the metamorphosis into a fully functioning band has now been completed. Since forming in 1995, producer-guitarist Simon Emmerson's remarkably stable gathering has become strongly identified with the whole global, hippy, ambient rave culture. The only problem is that that's become something of a dated concept, musically. For their fourth album, the Afrocelts are given a homogenised production that smoothes all their diverse elements down into a global composite, removing any spiky protuberances. For an album that's largely the product of acoustic musicianship, it sounds remarkably one-dimensional in terms of its middle-ground textures. Space is lacking between each instrument, producing a thick wall of sound.

The band's previous album, Volume 3: Further in Time, featured guest vocals from Peter Gabriel and Robert Plant, but now the band's regular singers are given prominence. Iarla O Lionaird's vocals hover in the heavenly realms, while N'Faly Kouyate operates at a more earthly, earthy level. There's still no shortage of exuberant instrumental guests, with flamenco guitar by Jesse Cook, a duet vocal for the Brazilian Nina Miranda and Irish fiddling from Martin Hayes and Eileen Ivers. "The Other Side" pulses swiftly, built around a frenetic drum work-out, and "Deep Channel" has a liquid bassline, with Emer Maycock's uillean pipes flitting around its trouncing beats. Sadly though, the epic "Rise Above It" ends up being derailed by guest singer Mundy's Bono-like straining. --Martin Longley

CD Description

For their fourth album, the band dropped the “Sound System” from its name and became known simply as Afro Celts. In interviews, Simon explained that the collective had evolved into a true band, and as such the “Sound System” moniker – which implies DJs and samples to the exclusion of musicians and instruments – no longer applied. Still, reviewers’ suggestions that the band had “gone acoustic” or that it had lost its interest in keyboards and beats were wildly overblown. To be sure, there is great emphasis on song craft and diverse instrumentation on Seed, but the programmed beats and ambient textures that marked the band’s earlier efforts have not been eliminated altogether. Even the largely acoustic “Ayub’s Song/As You Were” contains keyboard playing by Simon. In keeping with the “band” feel, Seed places a heavier emphasis on live bass (both acoustic and electric) and gives Johnny’s, N’Faly’s and Moussa’s percussion greater prominence in the mix. The band lineup for Seed includes Simon Emmerson, James McNally, Iarla O’Lionaird (whose vocals are given much greater prominence than on the band’s previous efforts), Martin Russell, N’Faly Kouyate, Myrdhin, Mass, Johnny Kalsi, Moussa Sissokho, and Emer Mayock

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Customer Reviews

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7 reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

Silky, stylish and undeniably Afrocelt 23 May 2003

By Jeremy

Format:Audio CD

I can't say I agree with Martin's review of this album - or particularly the concept that the unique style that the Celts fit into is becoming musically dated (sounds like an echo of the same deluded individuals that said guitar-based music wouldn't make it past the 60's!!).

Seed is laced with silkenness and smoothness, it is a pleasure to listen to in a different way to their previous offerings. However, the underlying sound is definately our AfroCelt friends, with energetic beats and reels flowing through the head with more subtlety, but not lacking by any means.

N'Faly's inspired Kora playing and gorgeously textured voice really get to shine on this latest recording, and Iarla shows again his power in his emotive and beautifully soaring melodies.

If you haven't heard the AfroCelts before, what are you waiting for? Get Seed... and while you are at it, order the first three. You won't regret it.

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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

The Afro-Celts Rise out of the Sound System 15 April 2003

By Andrew Hadley

Format:Audio CD

I bought Seed on something of a high, having really enjoyed "Shadowman", "North 2" and other tracks from "Further in Time". I have to admit that the rather electronic opening threw me somewhat, but as I went further in the album I got more absorbed into the chilled-out but expressive vibe. The unique ability of Afro-Celt is to combine percussion and whistle (as well as other instruments) to really transport you to someplace and sometime elsewhere. The "Nevermore" tracks, instrumental and vocal, are simply awesome, and give you that slight shudder of excessive enjoyment. I really enjoy Seed and would recommend you do the same.

However, for those new to Afro-Celts, I suggest you try "Further in Time" first. I think it has a slightly more organic feel and better vocals (although I don't like the saccharine singing in "When You're Falling").

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

Afro Celts - Seed 13 April 2003

By "urbanlama"

Format:Audio CD

Simply their best yet - fot those who have followed since Vol 1, you'll know their progression as one of the best bands of current time has hit the climate!

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

Hooked from the start

Of all the music I've listened to over the years, this was the first album I ever heard, where I liked every track right from the start. Read more

Published on 19 Jan 2010 by A. Williamson

Fantastic, but not their best to date

I always find that it takes me a while to get to like a new Afro Celt Sound System release, but once I've heard it a few times, I get right into it. Read more

Published on 30 April 2003 by J. Q. W. Bayes

A new genisis?

I am a recent convert to the afrocelts, hearing an interview with producre-guitarist Simon Emmerson on worldbeat, radio wales in April 2003. Read more

Published on 27 April 2003

Sound system sowing Seeds

So, according to the press blurb, the Afro Celt Sound System shed the "sound system" portion of its name because the band is refocusing on a more organic, acoustic sound. Read more

Published on 7 April 2003 by Earl Green

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