Artist:Afro Celt Sound System f/Peter Gabriel
Song:When You're Falling
Album:Pod
Afro Celt Sound System (ACSS) is a mix of West African music, Gaelic music and electronic dance music. The 2001 single When You're Falling is probably their best known song. Simon Emmerson was Grammy nominated for producing a 1994 album for Senegalese musician Baaba Maal. While working on the album in Senegal, Emmerson was struck by the similarities between an African melody and a traditional Irish air. Upon his return to London, Irish musician Davy Spillane told Emmerson about a belief that nomadic Celts lived in Africa before migrating to Western Europe. Emmerson decided to mix the two music styles. He brought in two members of Baaba Maal's band and Irish musicians. The core of ACSS was Emmerson on guitar, Martin Russell on keyboards, James McNally on accordion and bodhran, singer Iarla O Lionaird and Jo Bruce (Cream bassist Jack Bruce's son) on keyboards. There were a lot of guest musicians. The album Sound Magic was remixed with electronic dance beats and released on Peter Gabriel's Real World Records in 1996. The album was a surprise hit. Guinean musician N'Faly Kouyate was added as a permanent member. As they were about to start recording, Jo Bruce died from a severe asthma attack. The album was put on hold. When they returned to the studio, guest artist Sinead O'Connor wrote lyrics for the title song Release. McNally said that really got the band out of their funk. That was released in 1999. When You're Falling is from the 2001 album Further in Time. Of course Peter Gabriel is the guest vocalist. Emmerson said they wanted to emphasize the African sound so Kouyate was a significant contributor. Other guest singers include Robert Plant and the Irish sisters called Screaming Orphans. After two more albums, ACSS went on hiatus. This 2CD comp is a good intro to their music. They returned to live performing in 2010. Then there was a split in 2015 and two bands toured as Afro Celt Sound System. This was resolved and Emmerson owns the rights to the name. ACSS till tours and their latest album was released on Emmerson's own label in 2018. McNally and Russell were supposed to start a new band but they haven't done that. Here's the video for When You're Falling by Afro Celt Sound System featuring Peter Gabriel.
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