The Afor celts have always ploughed an interesting field, a mix of african rhythms and traditional Irish music, a good dollop of sean nos singing and excellent guest singers. All geared towards the modern dance floor. Its an ever rich, seething cauldron of different sounds and invention, beautifully melded together and produced.

For albums 1 and 2, however, I always felt that they were on the point of producing a great album but not quite there. For this release they are certainly far closer. The songs seem stronger. Their distinctive sound is now merely a way to express these excellent songs and instrumental melodies.

The album starts off in  lovethe way I love. A long and slow build up, comprised of haunting vocals and sweeping synths, held together by a fast trickle of electronic bleeps. Warbling bass kicks in and is followed by a zulu choir. Finally the heavy artillery of instrumentation, real and synthetic arrives. That is North.

North 2 is a dance floor rocker which has as its main melody a fierce and fast fiddle as its centre surrounded by some of the heaviest beats you'll find this side of a Meat Beat Manifesto album.

The first of our guest singers arrives on 'When you're falling'. It is Peter Gabriel, of Genesis and solo fame, and the boss of the celt's recor label, Real World. Keep it within the family so. His voice is guttural and earthy and perfectly suits the earthy music and backing singing on this track. We have somewhat abandoned the dancefloor for now and instead have a persistent beat and melody with a glorious chorus. Probably the highlight of this is the magnificent backup on chorus from main singer, Iarla O'Lionaird. Goosebumps!

'Colossus' is another celtic dancefloor stomper. Again it is packed full of melodies you'll find yourself humming later on.

'Lagan' sounds liken outtake from the Chilled in Ibza series. Possibly just not chilled enough. Another Iarla vocal.

'Shadowman' introduces a bit of ragga. Again something for the dancefloor. And a floor filler that has so much going on. Ragga vocal breathless female vocals spark off against each other. 'Ni'ib Fe' (?)  means I love you.

'Life begin' again is creepy sounding. Not the kind of song I'd like to meet down a dark alleyway at night. And  its sung by Robert Plant. You might have heard of him. Robert himself is sounding a bit paranoid.

'Further in time' sounds like an Underworld mix of a More Kante track. Very cool. Very bone shaking.

The Uilleann pipes on 'Gone on through' are a slow cool balm after all the danceflooor exertions. Buddha Bar time!! Screaming Orphans provides the husky female vocal, backed up by what sound 
like the Soweto street band. Iarla again turns in another peerless vocal. Soaring and shivering.

'Persistence of memory' is probably the highlight of the album. At least along with the gabriel track. A gorgeous haunting melody, impossible not to be touched by it. Sung again by the wonderful O'Lionaird.

'Silken whip', another instrumental, sounds like we're soaring across the boglands and green hills of Ireland in a Hollywood blockbuster. At quite some speed though.

'Onwards' closes off the album in a subdued fashion. This is the sound of heading home at three in the morning after a fabulous saturday night. On your own. In the dark. Time to think about the time you had, to reflect on the people you were with.

All in all its an exciting and varied mix of different musicl styles. None of which sound out of place. They are perfectly and seamlessly blended into this perfect whole.Its a smooth seductive sound and you'd be wise to enjoy it.

So, the best afro celts album and the only one on vinyl. your choice is easy. Buy it. Sound quality is not bad, quite bass heavy but its geared for teh dancefloor. Its certainly an appealing sound. Vinyl pressing, as always teh case from Simply Vinyl, is excellent. Tow 180grm slabs of vinyl, quiet pressing with no defects or warps. Packaging is simple enough. Cardbaord sleeve is not a gatefold. Inner plastic lined paper sleeves. The usual hard PVC outer cover for protection.