Afro Celt Sound System are a collective of musicians who combine elements of traditional West African, Celtic and Western pop to create fusion music. Release is from their 1999 album Volume 2: Release.
Luke and Lola analyse the music and technology in Release by Afro Celt Sound System
The album Volume 2: Release was published in 1999. It was Afro Celt Sound Systemâs second album since forming in 1995.
The song Release was written by the band and Sinead OâConnor, who provides the female vocalThe voice as a musical instrument.. The song is a tribute to original band member Jonas Bruce, who died after the release of the first album.
The three languages heard on the track are Maninka (language of GuineaAn African nation.), Irish and English. These three cultures directly influence the music.
The song includes traditional electronic instruments which make up the Western pop influence of fusion, ie electric pianoPiano that uses digital technology instead of mechanical strings to produce the sound., drum machineAn instrument with pads to strike. The pads can be programmed to create different sounds - often replicating a drum kit., sampleA digitally recorded fragment of sound, taken from an existing track or sound environment. and synthesiserA device for generating a unique sound or imitating an acoustic instrument.. In addition Celtic and West African instruments help establish the fusion of influences.