Modern Life Truly Is Rubbish: Blur To The End

Last night I took some time out to watch the latest documentary on pre-brit pop/brit-pop/post-brit pop legends Blur.

While never an avid fan of the group (casual listener at best, but who doesn't like Song 2 belted out somewhere at 3 AM when they have had a bit too much to drink and are feeling the need to jump around like a right git), I did find this fourth go round at telling the Blur story to have a much more emotional and sentimental impact that some of its predecessors (though I do have a soft spot for 2015's New World Towers, I was not as enamoured with 2010's No Distance Left To Run or 1993's Starshaped).

To The End, finds Blur back together again after a second prolonged estrangement. Albarn is emotionally recovering from a more personal break-up and has found himself mid 50's, living alone in a big country house (the irony of which is not lost on him) - "time is not infinite" as he states early on the piece.

Rather than the more generic "lets get the band back together for one last swing at" narrative of 2010's No Distance Left To Run, To The End finds Blur faced with a new challenge, playing to a packed out crowd at a wholly British and very legendary venue: Wembley Stadium.

This new film depicts more than just a band dusting of the instruments and getting back together for a big gig. To The End also charts the emotional return of Blur, and never hides away from the fact that these are now middle aged men, who have to deal with middle aged men shit while delivering a new album and performing their biggest gig ever in their home country.

The film was captured during the year in which they made a surprise return with their first record in 8 years, the critically acclaimed #1 album "The Ballad of Darren".

Blur: To The End, is perhaps more interesting than the three documentaries on Blur that preceded it because this time around it really focuses in on the unique relationship and dynamics of four friends - and bandmates of three decades - Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James and Dave Rowntree as they come together, reconnect, and reevaluate their legacy, while accepting that while age may have ravaged them at times physically (plenty of new and real obstacles are presented on their road to Wembley from aching backs, to bad knees, waning energy and the many challenges of middle age) it has also made the four of them far more accepting of each other as individuals, and perhaps more grateful of the time they spend together, creating music and sharing it with their fans.

It is great to follow the foursome from the studio as they head out on the road to play assorted warm-up shows in places like Wolverhampton and Eastbourne! – as well as a homecoming gig in Colchester, Essex.

It's funny that probably the most rockstar and middle aged dad moment during the whole film happens during the Colchester trip where, Damon and guitarist Graham Coxon find out during a pit-stop tour that the music room at their former comprehensive has been named in their honour. Their suggestion to the head teacher that its ambience might benefit from some posters, paisley wallpaper and a big bowl of weed is met with gasping but muted horror.

Director Toby L takes a pretty straightforward fly-on-the-wall branded documetary approach – candid, with mostly handheld footage, with a story that really is just about the band, told by the band - with no talking-head input from collaborators, industry commentators or hangers on. The result is a pretty polished, emotive, but never truly raw documentary with a somewhat wonderful melancholic positivity that in the end just can't help but somehow feeling very very Blur.

Featuring performances of their most iconic, much-loved songs, footage of the band in the studio and life on the road, Blur: To The End is an intimate moment in time with this most enduring of English bands, who have been at the heart of British cultural life and influence for over three decades.

There is a nice full circle moment at the end, where the film emotionally resolves the story (while again simultaneously avoiding the need to go into detail about Albarn's recent personal relationship break-up but hints at how the break up left him feel) when Albarn talks about what bringing Blur back meant to him through the line - "I started this journey alone in the country, but then I was really brought back to life when we got together to record and I found myself together again with my brothers".

The documentary is certainly worth a look for Blur fans... And non fans a like.

It has some great and sometimes poignant things to say about success, failure, resurrection, last friendships (spoiler alert: they are hard work) and realising in the end what is most important in life.

It is streaming now on Apple TV.