Tinariwen news - "Aman Iman" in Europe

Tinariwen is embarking on an extensive Europe tour following the release of their latest album "Aman Iman".  Photos and commentary from their last New York visit are featured below, as are the upcoming tour dates.  

 
 
   
 "Welcome to the desert" was not only Tinariwen's introduction at the Symphony Space, but it was repeated at such frequency between songs throughout the evening that it became an almost humorous one-liner that evoked delight from the audience.  With that one phrase, the band launched into a double set of sparse desert blues.  
 

   

Although the term desert blues could be a catch all term for a band like Tinariwen, when we closed our eyes and listed to the lengthy songs the imagery was strikingly appropriate.  The way in which the band plays with time in their music, and cuts the spaces of time with guitar chops and rhythm I could envision the beat of a camel's footstep.  This cut a natural rhythm that held its pace for the entire concert.  It was hypnotic, it lulled the audience, and it embodied a sense of wide-open space, an abundance of time, and timeliness itself.  It was a very foreign feeling to witness in the heart of New York City, where our lives are mandated by strict timetables

 
   

   
Swaying in one place, both the music and the movements of the band were sparse and energy efficient.  There was a hypnotic repetition to the guitar riffs and loping rhythm.  I found myself getting lost in the songs as if I was staring at a vast horizon that vibrated never got closer and never got farther.  I only reorienting myself when time signature shifted.  
   

   
Most of the band members took turns on guitar and rhythm, and each exchanged lead vocals throughout the evening.  It was a communal approach, one clearly developed by spending mountains of time creating music in open spaces where there was really no other way to express creativity.  
   

   

Tinariwen's latest album

 

   

Tinariwen sets off with a busy summer tour schedule for 2007, the latest tour information is as follows:

June 2007

June 20 - SPAIN, Almeria - Festival Alamar

June 24 - UK, Glastonbury - Glastonbury Festival

June 25 - UK, Exeter - Exeter Summer Festival

June 29 - PORTUGAL, Loulé - Festival Mediterraneo

June 30 - SWITZERLAND, St Gallen - Open Air Festival

JULY 2007

July 1 - FRANCE, Cergy-Pontoise - Furia Festival

July 2 - FRANCE, Gignac - Festival Les Nuits de Gignac

July 4 - FRANCE, Bassens - Festival Les Hauts de Garonne

July 7 - SPAIN, Cartagena - Mar de Musicas

July 14 - AUSTRIA, St Pölten - Nuke Festival

July 15 - ITALY, Taormina - WOMAD Festival Teatro Greco

July 16 - ITALY, Ferrara - Festival Sotto le Stelle

July 17 - ITALY, Rome - Villa Ada

July 19 - ITALY, Florence - Italia Wave Festival

July 22 - UK, London - Lovebox

July 23 - FRANCE, Montpellier - Festival de Radio France

July 24 - FRANCE, Montpellier - Festival de Radio France

July 25 - FRANCE, Montpellier - Festival de Radio France

July 26 - FRANCE, Néoule - Festival de Néoule

July 28 - SWITZERLAND, Nyon - Paléo Festival

July 29 - UK, Charlton Park - WOMAD Festival

AUGUST 2007

August 2 - FINLAND, Helsinki - Savoy Theatre

August 3 - SWEDEN, Stockholm - Berns

August 4 - SWEDEN, Urkult - Urkult Festival

August 5 - SWEDEN, Gothenburg - Tragarn

August 8 - NORWAY, Oslo - Oya Festival

August 9 - HUNGARY, Budapest - Sziget Festival

August 10 - FRANCE, Aulnoyes-Aymeries - Festival Les Nuits Secrètes

August 11 - FRANCE, Crozon - Festival Le Bout du Monde

August 14 - FRANCE, Luxey - Festival Musicalarue

 

 

 

   

              

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