Volume 2: Release

Volume 2: Release
Volume 2: Release
Studio album by Afro Celt Sound System
Released	25 January 1999 (1999-01-25)
Studios	Sonic Innovation, London
Genres	Worldbeat; Celtic fusion; ethnic electronica;
Length	64:15
Label	Real World
Producers	Simon Emmerson; Martin Russell;
Afro Celt Sound System chronology
Singles from Volume 2: Release
	"Release"; Released: 2000;

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 By 2001, the album had sold 105,000 copies in the United States according to Nielsen Soundscan.⁴

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	²
MusicHound World	⁵

The album was nominated for Best Global Music Album at the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards in 2000.⁶

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)⁷	93
French Albums (SNEP)⁸	63
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)⁹	42
UK Albums (Official Charts)¹⁰	38
US World Albums (Billboard)¹¹	6

Single

Chart (2000)	Peak position
UK Singles (Official Charts)¹²	71

Sales figures

According to Nielsen SoundScan Volume 2: Release has sold 105,000 units in the United States.¹³

References

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.
Phares, Heather. Afro Celt Sound System: Volume 2: Release at AllMusic. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
Mehta, Richie (4 October 1999). "Billy Corgan enters film scene". The Medium. Vol. 26, no. 6. Mississauga: Medium II Publications. p. 12. OCLC 978233370.
Cohen, Jonathan (23 June 2001). "Afro-Celt Sound System Teams With Plant, Gabriel On Third Real World Album" (PDF). Billboard. pp. 12, 109. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
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.
"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.
Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 9.
"Lescharts.com – Afro Celt Sound System – Volume 2: Release". Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
"Charts.nz – Afro Celt Sound System – Volume 2: Release". Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
"Official Albums Chart on 8/5/1999 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
"Top World Music Albums". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 43. New York: BPI Communications. 23 October 1999. p. 45. ISSN 0006-2510. OCLC 4086332.
"Afro Celt Sound System Songs and Albums | Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
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.

[bbsinglerel-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.

[allmusicrev-2] Phares, Heather. Afro Celt Sound System: Volume 2: Release at AllMusic. Retrieved 12 November 2020.

[mediumstigmatareview-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] Cohen, Jonathan (23 June 2001). "Afro-Celt Sound System Teams With Plant, Gabriel On Third Real World Album" (PDF). Billboard. pp. 12, 109. Retrieved 4 November 2025.

[musichoundworldrev-5] 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.

[bb42grammy-6] "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.

[7] Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 9.

[ac_France_Afro_Celt_Sound_System-8] "Lescharts.com – Afro Celt Sound System – Volume 2: Release". Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 December 2020.

[ac_New_Zealand_Afro_Celt_Sound_System-9] "Charts.nz – Afro Celt Sound System – Volume 2: Release". Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 December 2020.

[ukalbumchart-10] "Official Albums Chart on 8/5/1999 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 December 2020.

[bbchartworld-11] "Top World Music Albums". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 43. New York: BPI Communications. 23 October 1999. p. 45. ISSN 0006-2510. OCLC 4086332.

[uksinglechart-12] "Afro Celt Sound System Songs and Albums | Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 November 2020.

[bbsoundscansalesus-13] 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.

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