Serving as a bit of a musical mission statement for Afro-Celt Sound System, their debut effort starts off with two numbers which are still among their strongest: “Saor / Free” and “Whirl-y-Reel 1”. “Sure-As-Not / Sure-As-Knot” wears a bit as it throws in samples of children chanting in its second half, though admittedly that’s just my taste speaking there. The two “Whirl-y-Reel” cuts are a preview of the fast-paced, dense percussion dance tracks that will become the Afro-Celts’ 
specialty in the future, and Sound Magic largely lacks the serene vocals that also become the group’s hallmark in later outings. Still, it’s well worth a listen; recommended tracks include “Whirl-y-Reel 1”, “Inion / Daughter” and “House Of The Ancestors”.
- Saor / Free / News From Nowhere (8:21)
- Whirl-y-Reel 1 – Beard And Sandals Mix (7:21)
- Inion / Daughter (4:15)
- Sure-As-Not / Sure-As-Knot – Jungle Segue (9:58)
- Nil Cead Againn Dul Abhaile / We Cannot Go Home (7:20)
- Dark Moon, High Tide (4:12)
- Whirl-y-Reel 2 – Folk Police Mix (5:27)
- House Of The Ancestors (8:01)
- Eistigh Sealad / Listen To Me / Saor reprise (10:53)
Released by: RealWorld / Virgin
Release date: 1996
Total running time: 65:48
