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To hear a song sample, click on "Listen" by that sample.

1. Cyberia	Listen
2. Seed	Listen
3. Nevermore	Listen
4. Other Side	Listen
5. Ayub's Song/As You Were	Listen
6. Rise	Listen
7. Rise Above It	Listen
8. Deep Channel	Listen
9. All Remains	Listen
10. Green	Listen

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

Description
Fourth album from genre-bending world music fusioneers who blend African and Celtic traditional musics. Stepping back from the dance direction they took on 2001's 'Further In Time', they have explored a more organic, acoustic sound. Features guest spots from Jah Wobble, Irish fiddler Eileen Ivers, flamenco guitarist Jesse Cook and vocals by Galliano's Valerie Etienne.

6 Reviews 5 star:  (3) 4 star:  (3) 3 star:    (0) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:    (0)           Average Customer Review (6 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews   9 of 9 people found the following review helpful: Silky, stylish and undeniably Afrocelt, 23 May 2003 By  Jeremy Hynoski (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews    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.  Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? (Report this)   6 of 6 people found the following review helpful: The Afro-Celts Rise out of the Sound System, 15 April 2003 By  Andrew Hadley (London, UK) - See all my reviews 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").  Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? (Report this)   6 of 7 people found the following review helpful: A new genisis?, 27 April 2003 By A Customer I am a recent convert to the afrocelts, hearing an interview with producre-guitarist Simon Emmerson on worldbeat, radio wales in April 2003. Emphasising the dropping of sound system to demonstrate that the band have moved on in terms of their musical ideas and ideals from their global, hippy, ambient rave culture following, Seed, their fourth album, but first with the new genisis, demonstrates a confident assured maturity that for some groups never arrives. It is a fusion of musical styles with flamenco guitar and hand clapping, heavy rhythmic afro drumming, bamboo flute and uilean pipes, together with fiddle, mandolin, bouzouki amongst others. Sound confusing? It isn't not least because of the familarity of the parts blended intelligently by the perceptive vocalisations of Nina Miranda and N'Faly Kouyate (amongst others). It is a must listen too album, not least for those who have followed the group since their earlier outpourings - afterall we all move on in time and space. But does this signal the birth of a new musical generation? Maybe not, because of the familiarity of the parts. But it is certainly a new perspective on how those parts can fit into a whole and make music once again interesting.  Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? (