Volume 2: Release

Volume 2: Release
Studio album by Afro Celt Sound System
Released	25 January 1999 (1999-01-25)
Studio	Sonic Innovation, London
Genre	Worldbeat Celtic fusion ethnic electronica
Length	64:15
Label	Real World
Producer	Simon Emmerson Martin Russell
Afro Celt Sound System chronology
Volume 1: Sound Magic (1996) Volume 2: Release (1999) Volume 3: Further in Time (2001)
Singles from Volume 2: Release
"Release" Released: 2000 [1]

Volume 2: Release is Afro Celt Sound System's second album, released on 25 January 1999 by Real World Records. ^[2]

Release

A shorter edit of the title song "Release" was released in 1999 on the soundtrack for the American horror film Stigmata. ^[3] In 2000, Real World issued a single of the title track containing a remix of Rollo Armstrong and two remixes of Masters at Work. ^[1]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]
MusicHound World	[4]

The album was nominated for Best Global Music Album at the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards in 2000. ^[5]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Simon Emmerson, James McNally, Iarla Ó Lionáird and Martin Russell, except where noted

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Release" (Written by Emmerson, McNally, Ó Lionáird, Russell and Sinéad O'Connor)	7:39
2.	"Lovers of Light"	4:03
3.	"Éireann" (Written by Emmerson, McNally, Ó Lionáird, Russell and N'Faly Kouyate)	5:12
4.	"Urban Aire" (Written by Ronan Browne, Emmerson, McNally, Ó Lionáird and Russell)	2:07
5.	"Big Cat" (Written by Emmerson, McNally, Ó Lionáird, Russell and Ashley Maher)	7:47
6.	"Even in My Dreams" (Written by Emmerson, McNally, Ó Lionáird, Russell and Ron Aslan)	7:07
7.	"Amber" (Written by Emmerson, McNally, Ó Lionáird, Russell and Kouyate)	5:27
8.	"Hypnotica"	7:18
9.	"Riding the Waves" (Written by Emmerson, McNally, Ó Lionáird, Russell and Browne)	6:36
10.	"I Think of..."	4:33
11.	"Release It (instrumental)"	6:26

Personnel

Afro Celt Sound System Simon Emmerson – guitar, programming, keyboard, production James McNally – keyboard, whistle, low whistle, bodhran, accordion, additional production Iarla Ó Lionáird – vocals, Irish lyrics and translations Martin Russell – keyboard, programming, engineering, production, recording, mix engineering (2, 4, 5, 8, 9) N'Faly Kouyate – vocals, kora, balafon, French and African lyrics Myrdhin – celtic harp Moussa Sissokho – talking drum, djembe

Additional musicians Ron Aslan – programming beats, additional production (2, 6) Ronan Browne – uilleann pipes (2, 3, 4, 9) Michael McGoldrick – uilleann pipes (1, 2, 5, 10, 11), flute (5) Sinéad O'Connor – vocals (1) Ashley Maher – vocals (8) Johnny Kalsi – dhol drums, tablas Nigel Eaton – hurdy gurdy (1, 11) Youth – bass (8)

Technical personnel Tristan Manco – graphic design Jamie Reid – paintings Ted Emmerson – video grab photos Joe Dobson – video grab photos David Bottrill – mix engineering (1, 3, 5–8, 10, 11) Marco Migliari – assistant engineering Claire Lewis – assistant engineering Ian Cooper – mastering

Chart positions

Album Chart (1999) Peak position Australian Albums (ARIA) [6] 93 French Albums (SNEP) [7] 63 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [8] 42 UK Albums (OCC) [9] 38 US World Albums ( Billboard ) [10] 6

Single Chart (2000) Peak position UK Singles (OCC) [11] 71

Sales figures

According to Nielsen SoundScan Volume 2: Release has sold 105,000 units in the United States. ^[12]

References

1. Paoletta, Michael (11 March 2000). "The Dance Trax Hot Plate". Billboard . Vol. 112, no. 11. New York: BPI Communications. p. 34. ISSN   0006-2510. OCLC   4086332.
2. Phares, Heather. Afro Celt Sound System: Volume 2: Release at AllMusic. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
3. Mehta, Richie (4 October 1999). "Billy Corgan enters film scene". The Medium . Vol. 26, no. 6. Mississauga: Medium II Publications. p. 12. OCLC   978233370.
4. Roseman, Ken; McGovern, Adam (2000). "Afro Celt Sound System". In McGovern, Adam (ed.). MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide. Farmington Hills, Michigan: Visible Ink Press. p. 14. ISBN   1-57859-039-6.
5. "Final Nominations For The 42nd Annual Grammy Awards". Billboard . Vol. 112, no. 3. New York: BPI Communications. 15 January 2000. p. 72. ISSN   0006-2510. OCLC   4086332.
6. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 9.
7. "Lescharts.com – Afro Celt Sound System – Volume 2: Release". Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
8. "Charts.nz – Afro Celt Sound System – Volume 2: Release". Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
9. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
10. "Top World Music Albums". Billboard . Vol. 111, no. 43. New York: BPI Communications. 23 October 1999. p. 45. ISSN   0006-2510. OCLC   4086332.
11. "Afro Celt Sound System: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
12. Cohen, Jonathan (23 June 2001). "Afro-Celt Sound System teams With Plant, Gabriel On Third Real World Set". Billboard . Vol. 113, no. 25. New York: BPI Communications. p. 12. ISSN   0006-2510. OCLC   4086332.