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Reviewed: Franz Ferdinand, Mogwai and more get Lost In France

Doc celebrates Scotland's Chemikal Underground label

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In 1997, a group of musicians from Glasgow travelled to Mauron, France to play a festival. 18 years later, they have returned – this time with a film crew in tow. That these musicians include members of Franz Ferdinand, Mogwai and the Delgados means that we’re in for some wide-ranging chatter as well as strong tunes. “Is this us peering back to the past or gazing hopefully into the future?” asks the Delgados’ Stewart Henderson.

Niall McCann’s film offers a number of different narrative strands. On one hand, it is a historical piece about the social and cultural backdrop that gave rise to the Chemikal Underground label and associated bands. On another, it is a Proustian reverie as these musicians tug their luggage round sites in present day northwest France, revisiting hazy memories.

But perhaps most thrillingly, it is an archival reconstruction of the trip itself from Glasgow to Mauron itself, assembled through archive footage, photographs and fresh interviews. In a time before low-cost airlines, this involves managing 54 people on a lengthy, alcohol-fuelled journey involving assorted modes of transport. A coach, for instance, from Glasgow to the ferry terminal at Portsmouth: “It was bawbaggery times ten,” reveals Arab Strap’s colourful former manager, Tam Coyle. David Sosson, the festival organizer, describes it succinctly as, “Fire, stealing, missing people.” The 1997 trip climaxes with a football match between the visitors and the locals that could have been taken straight from an Irvine Welsh story.

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In the present day, there is an emotional speech from Mogwai’s Stuart Braithwaite, Alex Kapranos bring his most Alan Partridge-esque jumper while, at the film’s climax, a ‘supergroup’ named the Maurons is formed involving some of the participants. McCann’s film is a significant step-up from his 2012 Luke Haines doc, Art Will Save The World. This is a warm, rich business.

Follow me on Twitter @MichaelBonner

The April 2017 issue of Uncut is now on sale in the UK – featuring our cover story on Björk. Elsewhere in the issue, there’s interviews with Deep Purple, Chrissie Hynde, The Magnetic Fields and we look inside legendary LA venue The Troubadour, while our free CD collects great new tracks from Grandaddy, Laura Marling, Real Estate, Hurray For The Riff Raff and more. The issue also features Alison Krauss on her best recorded work. Plus John Mayall, Jaki Liebezeit RP, Procul Harum, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, The Creation, Buena Vista Social Club, Elliott Smith, George Harrison, The Jesus And Mary Chain, Sleaford Mods and more, plus 131 reviews

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