Tag Archive: Tinariwen


THE DESERT BLUES OF TINARIWEN

Filed under: Music, Politics — 1 Comment
April 18, 2012

TINARIWEN live at the Bronson Club, Ravenna 16th April 2012

There aren’t many live shows you can truly call spectacular but this the word that most accurately describes the mind-blowing ninety minute set Tinariwen played at this small, packed venue.

Dressed head to toe in desert robes (thawbs) the five performers both look and sound amazing.

While this is a band with good reason to sing the blues I was struck by how upbeat and joyous their music was.

NPR described their sound as “trance music with attitude” since while the vocals are plaintive and melancholy, the extraordinary guitar rhythms are hypnotic and energizing. It is electric blues is both familiar and singular – no Western band plays like this. Continue reading →

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T IS FOR TINARIWEN

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June 16, 2010

I thought about making a post with an  A-Z of World Cup with A being for the  Anyone but England campaign – the Celts childish revenge for the English having the gall to get to the finals while Scotland, Northern Ireland & Wales stumbled in the qualifying rounds.

But my motivation to fill the rest of the alphabet failed me,  aside from interesting new additions to the footballing vocabulary like J for Jabulani and V for  Vuvuzela the enterprise seemed too much of an effort.

So I will content myself with  a tenuous musical  link to the soccer showcase with T for Tinariwen, the amazing band from the southern Sahara who were fantastic in the pre-tournament Kick-Off concert.  Forget Shakira’s wacky Waka-Waka routine and marvel at leader Ibrahim Ag Alhabib’s cool guitars and detached demeanour.

This is a man who is not interested in being a grinning moron for the occasion:

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