An amazing cd & dvd set

An excellent set of remixes with dvd extras from an absolutely superb group of musicians. Be sure to check into their albums -- Seed, Further in Time (aka Vol. 3), Release (2), & Sound Magic (1). You will not be disappointed.

So much more than a "remix" album

POD is one of the best remix albums you're ever likely to hear, in "world music" or any other category. Most projects of this nature tend to rely heavily on the input of guest DJs, the majority of whom, in an effort to make a name for themselves and put a unique spin on the songs, totally massacre the original tracks. It takes a disciplined and gifted remixer indeed to reinterpret another artist's song in a manner that is "different" and yet respectful.

The Afro Celts have solved this problem by skipping the middleman altogether and doing most of the remixing on POD themselves. This is an excellent decision, because their guitarist, Simon Emmerson, also happens to be an acclaimed DJ in his own right who has a great track record for remixing and reinventing other artist's songs without completely destroying them (check out his Outernationalists project, for example). Afro Celts members Mass (keyboard/drum programming), Martin Russell (keys, engineering) and James McNally (an astonishingly gifted multi-instrumentalist) also had a hand in many of the mixes on POD, giving the project a vibe that is both familiar and new.

Together, the Afro Celts take "Rise Above" (originally from SEED) and transform it into a funky, string-laden dancehall track, while the title track from FURTHER IN TIME becomes a trippy electronic journey into sound. "Lagan," also from FURTHER IN TIME, eliminates most of Iarla O'Lionaird's vocals and brings both drums and strings forward in the mix to create a majestic album closer. POD's crowning achievement, though, is the amazing "Whirly 3," which is not so much a remix as a complete re-recording, incorporating new melodies and new instruments, including a drum kit. Just try to sit still during this one!

While the "guest" mixes on POD are quite good, they can't help but pale in comparison to the band's own work. The Rollo/Sister Bliss mix of "Release" thankfully retains the basic structure of the original song, but the brass and other urban-sounding instrumentation will likely appeal more to fans of Faithless than of the Afro Celts. And the Wren and Morley mix of "When You're Falling" unfortunately masks the rich, layered acoustic guitar of the original track in favor of what sounds like a static-ridden Casio keyboard circa 1984. The best of the guest mixes is DJ Toshio's "Full Moon Low Tide," a radical amalgamation of several tracks from SOUND MAGIC.

POD is a real treat for long-time Afro Celts fans, and if there is any justice in the world, it will draw in a significant number of new fans as well. Rather than settling for a standard remix album or a "greatest hits" compilation, the Afro Celts have taken familiar material and presented it in an inventive and exciting new light. Just listen to the way the Rollo/Sister Bliss mix of "Release," a very electronic, club-oriented song, segues seamlessly and beautifully into "Whirly 3," an acoustic jam that has more in common with a live performance than it does a remix. It all flows together perfectly, reflecting the boundless creativity of a group of true musical geniuses at work. Long live the Afro Celts!

Afro-Celt Sound System.... BOOM!!! A POD review

The ever-brilliant sonic innovators Afro-Celt Sound System (Afro-Celts or ACCS for short) have just released a brilliant new creation - POD. POD is a treat for Afro-Celt fans everywhere and a superb introduction to their music for curious newcomers. POD features two discs, PODCD, which is a CD full of mind-bending remixes of many of the Afro-Celts biggest hits, as well as some incredible new material, the best of which is undoubtedly Whirly 3, an explosive 'live sounding' re-exploration of Whirly Reel, which was featured on their first album 'Sound Magic', which breaks into new, uncharted territories with a fantastic new reel featuring pipes, whistle and fiddle. A few of the tracks can be found elsewhere on import discs featuring Afro-Celt remixes, but almost everything on this disc represents new, fresh and very creative takes on the Afro-Celts' brilliant creations. POD is well worth it for the CD alone.

The second part of the package is a bonus DVD, PODDVD. This DVD features four videos. The first is a new version of their Persistence of Memory video, remixed with the new Persistence of Memory mix found on the CD. It's a beautiful and interesting video with a good story and gorgeous camera work. The second is the very cool and strange video for When You're Falling, featuring vocals by Peter Gabriel. You may have seen these videos on TV, but now you have the opportunity to have them on DVD with top quality sound and video. The third feature is edited video footage from Womad USA 2001. The footage, though brief (8 minutes), is pretty awesome. Be aware, however, that it does not included live audio from the concerts but rather a dubbed in mix from the CDs. I would have preferred a real live version, but the Afro-Celts have assured me that a complete live DVD is in the works for the future. I can't wait. The last feature is the best - a mind-altering 5.1 surround sound remix of North (in both DTS and Dolby Digital) accompanied by a totally psychedelic music video trip into the Afro-Celts' world... prepare to be be blown away.
I have word that the Afro-Celts are not only working on a complete live DVD but also a new album. The Afro-Celts put themselves behind their music, concerts and fans 110% and I can hardly wait to hear/see/experience what they come up with next. In the meantime, POD will take Afro-Celt fans on a wild and wonderful trip through the Afro-Celt world... enjoy the ride!

Chris