Many approach the idea of remix albums with a certain amount of scepticism. This is partly due to its perception as a cynical record label marketing ploy used to sell more units of a popular artist with little input from the artists themselves. And this is often true. But when you receive a multimedia package the likes of 'Pod'
, the concept of a remix album moves on to another level. Not only is 'Pod' a personal collection of some of the very best remixes over the Afro Celt Sound System's amazing career, it also showcases previously unreleased material, and reinvents old classics with a driving new rhythm section that represents where the 'live' Afro Celt sound is now. This isn't to mention an exclusive 25-minute DVD lovingly created in partnership with Realworld's groundbreaking multimedia department. In short 'Pod' takes their music kicking and screaming into a new era of surround sound entertainment and cinematic pyrotechnics.


"Unlike conventional remix albums, we have actually used the opportunity to work in our new band," guitarist and founder member Simon Emmerson points out when discussing the ideas behind Pod. "With tracks such as 'Riding The Skies' and 'Whirly 3' we actually remixed in live drum and bass. Effectively we've taken DJ culture and turned it on its head by remixing with real instruments. For example 'Whirly 3' has been completely reworked by the band and is now the big finale tune in our live set."


When we do see remixes from celebrated producers Masters At Work, Rae & Christian, DJ Toshio from U.F.O., and Rollo & Sister Bliss, the results are mixed into a storming club set by Simon Emmerson: "The whole DJ mix section is indicative of my DJ work. It's become more common place for Global Beat DJ's to beat-mix nowadays and I wanted to represent that."


The Afro Celts have an extremely loyal fan-base, prompting the band to win the 2003 BBC World Music Listeners Award (even though the band have received very little airplay on Radio 3) and nominations for the BBC Folk Music Awards. It has also meant that the band have been able to sell out the Royal Festival Hall, and pack audiences at both Cambridge Folk Festival and the WOMAD Eden Sessions last year. In the States their fan-base is even larger, meaning that the Afro Celts have been nominated for a Grammy on several occasions, and packed venues wherever they play. "Our fans definitely had an influence on this album," states co-producer/writer James McNally. "We have a very active website where tracks such as 'Johnny At Sea' were only available as sound bytes and we were inundated with requests to release them."


On the DVD we get to glimpse the Afro Celt Sound System at their most scintillating, live on stage in Seattle during WOMAD USA 2001. "It was an historic gig for us," explains Emmerson. The band played in front of 15, 000 people, with Peter Gabriel making a rare guest appearance on stage. "It was really the year that we were set to break America, but then 9/11 happened and our video of When You're Falling had to be withdrawn just as it was about to go on heavy rotation on VH-1. It's such a powerful video, but it was just one of the many setbacks that we've had to endure as a band."


After Seattle the band decided to produce their next album 'Seed' with a new rhythm section. Bass player Francis Hylton is an accomplished session player on the London dance circuit, and remarkable drummer Ian Markin is only twenty-five and nephew of top session drummer Andy Gangadeen. The latter's precision perfect drum and bass beats dominate 'Riding the Skies' (a comprehensive reworking of 'Riding the Waves') providing the Afro Celts with a completely new psychedelic break beat funk sound that bodes well for future releases. Also making a more visible presence this time round is long-time Afro Celts engineer/producer