Ah the double live album. Contractual obligation to shift some more units? A memento for fans lucky enough to catch the tour? Or an essential document of a stunning event for those unable to attend? “Baïonarena” at times feels stuck somewhere between the last two, and given Manu Chao has already released one live album, “Radio Bemba Sound System” from his 2001 tour (promoting “Proxima Estacion: Esperanza”), this could feel dangerously close to the first category. However sheer energy and the generous volume of material on offer here (including live footage) overcome such cynical thoughts.

This lavish double CD and single DVD set captures the man known as José-Manuel Thomas Arthur Chao to his parents and his six piece band on the last night of their world tour in 2008 at the Roman Amphitheatre in Bayonne, France. Befitting a homecoming performance (Chao was born in Paris to Spanish parents) the reception is suitably excitable and vocal. And in return, over the thirty-three tracks here, Manu Chao responds with what he does best: deliver genre-bending latino-ska-revolutionary punk-rock to an ecstatic fan-base. It’s high-octane and infectious stuff: the rhythm section is relentless throughout, with only the occasional dip for a brief ‘radio transmission’ or a lovers-rock-skank interlude. The sound quality and mix is excellent throughout – pulling out the funky guitar breaks, acrobatic percussion and urgent trumpet playing in particular - but allowing the crowd buzz to surround this without being intrusive. An example of this is ‘Clandestino’ in which the Spanish guitar sound is pristinely beautiful and Chao’s well-travelled growl dominates but with a faint echo of the crowd singing along behind him.

So the trawl through his back catalogue takes in the rolling guitars and rap-rock of ‘The Monkey’, the rousing flamenco-rock of ‘Desparacedio’, the furious ska-rhythms and sirens of ‘Rainin’ in Paradize’ and the Franco-accordian-punk of ‘La Hiver est La’ - the latter towards the end of the set but featuring full-throated audience call-and-response throughout. However the repeated chants (count how many songs incorporate ‘hoy hoy hoy hoy’) and relentless energy across two hours without the benefit of being there can become wearying.

Mano Chao is a legendary live, so well-deserving of such a high quality documenting of this show, including some impressive multi-camera live footage on the DVD. Ultimately however it leaves you wishing you were there in person rather than enjoying this second-hand. A great memento for fans but newcomers might want to start with one of the single disc studio albums. Or even better get to see the Radio Bemba Sound System live.