The sound of the past transforming into the future.

Sound Magic, was released on 15 July 1996, and was the first fruit of a collaboration between a group of the finest African musicians, their counterparts from the Celtic communities of western Europe and several of Britain's most respected dance music producers.

Produced by Simon Emmerson, the Grammy-nominated producer behind Senegalese singer Baaba Maal's albums Firin In Fouta and Lam Toro (both of which featured contributions from Celtic musicians), Sound Magic is the brainchild of Emmerson and Jamie Reid, the artist responsible for the original Sex Pistols' record sleeves.

Recorded at the Real World Recording Week in July 1995, the album features three of Ireland's most respected traditional and folk musicians, sean nós singer Iarla O'Lionaird and Uilleann pipers Davy Spillane and Ronan Browne; Pogue member James McNally on whistle, bodhran and accordion; Kenyan nyatiti player Ayub Ogada; Kauwding Cissokho and Masamba Diop, two members of Baaba Maal's band; and an all-star ensemble of African and Celtic musicians.

The musics of Africa and the Celts display remarkably similar genes - the harp and the kora, the bodhran and the talking drum. Is this a simple coincidence? Ancient historians talk of 'Black Celts': were the first inhabitants of western Europe originally African?

Sound Magic is no ungainly trawl through tradition, trying to weld different heritages together. The instruments may belong to history, but the music sits proudly at the forefront of modern dance. The beats and rhythms belong to today's club culture: jungle nestles next to jigs and reels; African jazz flows into Gaelic eulogies.

For many of the musicians this was a personal odyssey back to their pre-history; for others it was a journey into the new; for all of them it was a chance to try something they knew little about.

As Iarla O'Lionair.......
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