Amadou & Mariam at Pure Groove

Amadou & Mariam at Pure Groove

27 February, 2009
by: Lianne

During the last three years Malian husband-and-wife team Amadou & Mariam have really been pushing out from beneath the controversial ‘world’ tag which was once pressed upon them. Teaming up first with Manu Chao and then with Damon Albarn, their earthy, sun-licked sound has been condensed into soft-rocking pop that defies beautifully all the risks inherent in big-name production swizzles; namely, that their raw beauty might be usurped by slick electric tricks in an attempt to widen their appeal.

Of course, their packed-out lunchtime gig at Pure Groove is a pared down affair, with just the two of them on stage. Assuming that the venue’s acoustics are up to scratch (which they are), then their success relies solely on the bare bones of harmony and Amadou’s intricate guitar playing, and it is an absolute testament to the strength of their sound that the overall effect is exactly (and I do mean exactly) the same, with or without the disco fusion drum beats and cut-up guitar wizardry of their new release.

The two stand together on stage (resplendent, by the way, in matching pink outfits), moving slowly through a twenty-minute set which included a brilliant, soaring version of ‘Ce N’est Pas Bon’ and the English number ‘I Follow You’. A teethy, smiling Amadou leaves the stage at 1.50, just ahead of his wife, amid an atmosphere of seam-bursting hush and applause – this is the end result when dreaminess meets joy.

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Lianne