Here we have two bands representing two very different styles and regions of Africa—Konono No. 1 from the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Omara Moctar, aka Bombino, from the Saharan sands of Niger.
Konono are billed as headliners, but Bombino has transport troubles coming up from yesterday’s gig in Leeds, so they open up the show.
Their sound is built up on a solid base of drum and percussion grooves, overlaid with the likembe, a ‘thumb piano’, which the band run through their home made speaker system to the point of distortion, coming closer in tone to a gain-cranked synthesiser.
It’s based on the traditional music of the Zombo ethnic group, though augmented by drumkit and electronics, and this trance and dance inducing mixture of old and new seems highly appropriate for a festival that opened with a celebration of Scotland’s own premier folk-electrifier, Martyn Bennett.
Bombino practices a similar musical melding of old plus new, though in his case the similarities to western folk and contemporary music is more intentional than coincidental, as he lists John Lee Hooker and Hendrix as two major influences.
He blends blues and rock licks almost seamlessly with the Tuareg guitar style, finding common ground through the ubiquitous minor pentatonic scale.
Each of his songs builds in intensity and tempo, bringing us into a whirlwind of galloping riff driven fury.
This gig really proves that Celtic Connections lives up to its name, as the festival showcases not only our native folk and contemporary music, nor even just that of the expanded ‘Celtic fringe’, but draws from a global pool of talent and traditions.
Words: C.R. Sanderson
Photos: Tim J Gray
