Radio Bemba Sound System

He may not mean a great deal on these shores but to many, many people around the world Manu Chao is something of a hero, as demonstrated by his memorable Dublin show earlier this year. If a live gig is undoubtedly the best place to hear him, this live album is a definite close second.

Backed by the electric, eclectic band of the title, the record is a whirlwind of energy, passion and pure musical brilliance that perfectly encapsulates the European musical melting pot. A genuine culture clash of reggae, hip hop, folk, flamenco, punk and God knows what else, the twenty nine tracks fly by with barely a breath between them. While converts will lap it up, beginners may find this a perfect, if baffling, place to start. Sometimes there’s just too much going on at too frantic a pace and without a grasp of the language it can be hard to follow, like watching a Jackie Chan movie without the subtitles. Persevere, however, and the many delights will rise to the surface.

A smattering of Mano Negra numbers reveal that maybe his old band had the better songs but their mantel is in safe hands. Ironically, given his love of the Clash, Chao’s multi-faceted approach to making music is not that dissimilar to Joe Strummer’s latest incarnation, both men burning with the untold possibilities of a global perspective. Sit through the whole thing in one go and you’ll emerge slightly breathless at the end, wondering just how one group of people can produce such a sustained burst of sheer energy. Stunning.