"He was a lot younger than any of us, a vibrant central figure in the band. There was a lot of grieving. When a guy like that whom you closely worked with dies suddenly, it’s a massive blow," recalls Iarla. For some time it seemed like the Afro Celts’ journey had come to an end, that the tribe would go their separate ways. "We gave so much of our lives to it at that point, if we hadn’t we’d just have fallen apart," says James.
"It was our way of surviving the trauma," adds Simon. "The first album was a project, the second album was by a band and the third album is by a much better band than the second."
‘Volume 2: Release’ was understandably a darker record than its predecessor, but out of the loss and adversity the band discovered new strength. Again, the Afro Celts’ focus became sharper and their personality grew as they hit the international live circuit. The effect these performances had on the audience was also felt in the band. "You can see what each member brings to the overall picture more readily live," says Emmerson. " We write with the live show in mind - this is the point where Johnny (Kalsi, dhol drum player) comes to the fore, here’s the part where James plays a tune. You can almost see the show develop before you as you write; the entry points are marked out very clearly."
"Most bands meet first, develop a bond and their music comes after that; effectively, we’re doing that backwards. This is the first time we’ve gone into a recording fully aware of our strengths and weaknesses," says Martin Russell.
" For this record the only rules were - we’re going to break all the rules. The great thing about the Afro Celts is that there’s enough creativity and maverick spirit to push the boat out into unchartered waters," agrees Emmerson. The departure was signalled by two songs, ‘When You’re Falling’ (co-produced with Stephen Hague) and ‘Life begin Again’ - shaped by McNally and Emmerson, dressed with Iarla Ó Lionáird’s lyrics and sculpted by Russell.
Originally, Iarla intended to sing the songs, but as they took shape they seemed more suited to two vocalists whose cross-cultural connections are well documented.
Protection - we do a lot of it these days. Sun cream for our skin, sunglasses for our eyes, condoms for you know where - but do you remember to protect your hearing?
Click to find all the information you need to look after your hearing now so you can enjoy music for years to come
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