The Hug and Pint has managed to fit over a hundred people in to the venue space to see what has to be Glasgow’s busiest gig; Mdou Moctar.
Moctar is a Nigerien guitarist who is becoming recognised as one of the great musicians from the countries of the Saharan desert.
He was discovered and sought out by American label Sahel Sounds, after their Music from Saharan Cellphones compilations, the culture of music in contemporary Africa being shared by Bluetooth transfers from one phone to another.
This idea is illustrated very clearly in Mdou’s film, Akounak Tedalat Taha Tazoughai or Rain the Colour Blue with a Little Red In It, which was shown at the CCA on Sunday.
To the music, Sahel Sounds sum it up best; the music is “electrifying, distorted and blown out guitar balances with sweet melodies of Saharan folk.”
I would add that the spiritual earth quality of Moctar’s music is what makes him stand out in the previously mentioned compilation and following the question and answer session, following Monorail Records’ showing of the film, his natural charisma and charm break any cultural or language barriers, the latter being what Moctar addresses at both the gig and the screening.
The atmosphere at the venue is charged, the Akounak Tedalat Taha Tazoughai OST has been pushed and widely accepted by the Glasgow crowd prior to this, so the audience responds well to melodies and riffs that are extended in the live setting.
A good comparison to the hypnotic quality of the music would be NEU!, the rhythmic motif with slight variations drives and sets a hard groove, albeit a beat where it isn’t quite certain to any listener where one is.
Live Moctar, taking lead guitar and vocal duties, and his two-piece band, rhythm guitar and vocals, command the pace of the space, dropping and increasing the tempo in response to the room.
The drum fills punctuate the sections, not so much with the hits of the drums, but the spaces left in the fills.
In the Q&A it was asked what music Moctar listens to, the answer illustrates just how removed from western tradition he is as he had only recently been introduced to Jimi Hendrix.
Both artists are left hand guitarist, and both knew the importance of having a spiritual, charged, earthy quality to their music; universal qualities that are understood anywhere.
The underlying message as said in one of Moctar’s lyrics translates “music can make you sick, music can make you well”.
Have a listen to some of the music streaming on the label’s site and I bet you’ll feel better for it.
Words: Paul Choi
