Tinariwen debut well worth the wait

"IT was one of the most highly anticipated gigs of the year so when Tinariwen finally arrived on stage at The Point in Cardiff the atmosphere was understandably electric.

Ibrahim, Tinariwen's instantly recognisable leader, was followed onto the platform by the four other group members, with the strains of one of their earliest songs, Soixante Trois, echoing around the intimate venue.

This song, perhaps more than any other, explains Tinariwen's formation as a group of poets and musicians.

A rebellion in 1963 by a group of Touaregs from Mali was brutally suppressed by the Malian army. This, coupled with drought and poverty, provided ample material for protest songs from the desert.

Although, throughout the set, members of the band would leave and then rejoin the others on stage, it demonstrated Tinariwen's versatility in showcasing their talent.

With three lead guitarists in the line-up, each one took the opportunity to take the lead during their 16 songs, which were mostly taken from their last two albums.

On the track Tenere Bous, Abdallah, in particular, showed his prowess on acoustic guitar. Every now and then, he would ask the crowd: "Is (this) OK?"

He needn't have asked - it was clearly apparent that everyone was enjoying the performance.

The experience was enhanced when images depicting scenes mentioned in some of the songs as well as desert culture were displayed on a back stage screen.

The rousing rendition of Winakalin, with the increasing crescendo of rhythms just before Tinariwen left the stage, was a particular highlight.

Would they treat us to an encore and would it be Chet Bogassa, which is one of my favourites?

Yes and no.

The encore didn't disappoint though and more than 400 people left the gig satisfied with such an enlightening performance.

While The Point was a wonderful venue for the concert, I couldn't help visualising Tinariwen playing at an open-air festival on a balmy June evening.

Maybe one day, perhaps." - Arthur Bliss