Various Artists
The Future Is Unwritten - Joe Strummer
Sony BMG



There's probably no perfect way to collate a soundtrack for a documentary about a man as eclectic and varied as Joe Strummer. Rightfully, it seems this collation of various artists came about because they asked the question, "What the hell did Joe listen to?" and not, "Let's just repackage The Clash's 'London Calling'".

Joe grew up listening to the BBC World Service throughout his childhood as he travelled across the world, even running his own pirate radio show during The Clash era. Later he found himself on the BBC with his very own show. 'The Future Is Unwritten' plays out like one of Strummer's very own BBC shows: a diverse collection of music interspersed with interesting anecdotes, with sound bite narration from the man himself.

The opener starts with Joe professing (although with tongue firmly planted in cheek and dry as ever) he would like to be referred to by the title of "punk rock warlord". A dirtier mix of White Riot is then launched with Strummer singing the first verse completely a capella. Before you know it, French-Algerian Rachid Taha's version of Rock The Casbah starts; the intro is full of panpipes and bongo percussion, and is an almost Bollywood version of The Clash hit. It is a little confusing at first, and if you are confused already, wait for Elvis Presley, Woody Guthrie, Nina Simone and more disparate acts such as Columbian Andres Landeros and reggae dub master U-Roy.

Joe Strummer was not just a punk rock warlord, the man had a genuine love for so many different kinds of music and people. His early transient life no doubt shaped the vivid and varied sound scapes he would create as well as listen to. He was not just a punk, he was not a nihilist; he had a real affinity for this planet. True love, honesty and the good fight can be heard right throughout 'The Future Is Unwritten'.

Daniel Gladys