GETTING IT BACK - THE STORY OF CYMANDE
Cert TBA
89 mins
BBFC advice: TBA
Blimey, this might be the best music documentary since the wonderful Searching For Sugar Man more than a decade ago.
And it has a few parallels - in this case, a band rather than a solo singer were revered before and after disappearing.
Then, even to their surprise, they returned to the stage to be acclaimed among a new set of fans.
Getting It Back - The Story of Cymande also has prejudice and politics as common factors in its background.
Of course, it doesn't have the same levels of intrigue or detective work, and none of the band have come back from the dead, but it is equally uplifting, and they also play great music.
Cymande was a group from Brixton and Balham founded in the 1970s by children of the Windrush generation.
Tim MacKenzie-Smith's documentary reflects how, despite the extreme racial prejudice of the time, they used their intoxicating combination of jazz, funk and soul to bring a message of peace and love.
Led by Patrick Patterson on guitar and Steve Scipio on bass, they found unexpected chart success in the USA with their first three albums.
However, there was no such appreciation in the UK, where radio stations wouldn't play their songs. Thus, they became disillusioned and disbanded in 1975.
They went on to do other things, ranging from lawyers to electricians. Or, in one case, being a Jools Holland band member.
But, as the years passed, the reputation of Cymande grew and grew, inspiring artists who sampled and reworked their sounds.
Their music even appeared in hits by De La Soul, Wu-Tang Clan and The Fugees.
Thus, this film includes a host of enthusiastic tributes from artists and DJs, including Mark Ronson and Craig Charles.
Most importantly, there are contributions from all of Cymande's members, mixed with archive footage of them in the 1970s and the news at the time.
They were formed at a dangerous time - when openly racist politicians actively advocated deporting all non-whites.
How apt then that, after such a long interregnum, they should be persuaded to reform at a time when a right-wing agenda has again come to the fore.
Their mantra of love and kindness has been welcomed back with open arms, and new generations are lapping up their music.
It is a perfect finale to a documentary that musicphiles will love.
Reasons to watch: Musicphiles will love it
Reasons to avoid: If you aren't into music history
Laughs: None
Jumps: None
Vomit: None
Nudity: None
Overall rating: 8/10
Did you know? Cymande derives from a calypso word for "dove", which symbolises peace and love.
The final word. Tim MacKenzie-Smith: "What I love about it is that when they were trying to release this music, no one gave them a chance and no one supported it but ultimately it’s the power of the music that won." Sanclemente
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