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The Clash - Essential Clash
Sony Music Video/Sony BMG . R4 . COLOR . 49 mins . E . PAL

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Depending upon who you ask, you’ll get a different answer as to who the most influential musicians of our time actually are/were. While those who still worship at the altar of Kajagoogoo can instantly be dismissed (and a decent slapping is a fair call, too), you‘ll find many with even a little suss will make mention of The Clash, and not without reason. At a time when the music world needed a massive kick up its clacker they were part of a vanguard of bands with boots big enough to deliver it, and instrumental in combining pop and politics in a fashion which has thankfully survived in various genres to this day. But I’ve been through all this before in my review of the documentary on The Clash, Westway to the World, so in the interests of not repeating myself, or sending any readers off to sleepy-bobos land, I’ll pop this little link in here in hopes that anybody interested in finding out more may check it out.

Right, now on to the task at hand – this particular DVD, The Essential, which is basically a collection of The Clash’s video clips. Never exactly ones to embrace the format, most of which exists or indeed was shown on the Countdowns of the world was in the form of live performances.
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On second thoughts let's not go to the Casbah, it is a silly place...
Obviously this means that what’s featured here is much the same, with the sublime London Calling and the incredibly silly Rock the Casbah being really the only two examples of them bowing to the demand for “proper” clips. From their early White Riot days right through to their almost cartoon-like Shea Stadium presence for Should I Stay or Should I Go?, the amount of styles plundered is quite boggling – through simple thrashy rock to the massive influence of dub and its various forms, to the poppier tunes which befriended those radio programmers too stupid to catch on earlier, accurately describing The Clash’s sound is pretty much akin to nailing snot to a wall – incredibly difficult and quite likely very messy and ick.

With only 49 minutes of clips, including a prolonged trailer of sorts for Don Letts’ film Clash on Broadway, it’s pleasing that a little more effort has been expended on this release. As such a shortish film (50 minutes) by Joe Strummer entitled Hell W10 has also been included. A black and white excursion into the world of drugs, guns and gangs in London made long before some bloke named Guy Ritchie came along, it’s been done in a pre-talkie style complete with dialogue cards and is soundtracked by a selection of Clash instrumentals, B-sides and other bits and pieces. Made in a break from touring in 1983, it was thought lost for all time until apparently this rather rough copy turned up at a car boot sale a couple of years ago. To be honest it’s hardly a vital watch, but it is most definitely an interesting curio which at least gives us an opportunity to see how hammy Mick Jones and Paul Simonon really could be – just in case the Rock the Casbah clip didn’t have you convinced.

Getting back to the clips, one neat little feature is the ‘Video Selector’, enabling any of the 14 promos to be playlisted in any order desired. As for the actual track listing…

Clash on Broadway featuring London Calling and Radio Clash
White Riot
Complete Control
Tommy Gun
Clampdown
Train in Vain
London Calling
Bankrobber
The Call Up
Rock the Casbah
Should I Stay or Should I Go?
Career Opportunities

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It should come as no surprise that all the clips are delivered in full frame, as is Hell W10. The differences in quality essentially come down to the medium on which the clips were filmed – with those such as White Riot that were shot on video looking quite remarkably good considering their age. It’s the stuff that makes up the bulk of this presentation, however, those clips shot on film, which don’t fare nearly so well. The usual array of flecks and specks abound, along with a general washed out look which most definitely gives away their vintage and indicates a lack of care in their archiving. Still, some may argue that the rough and tumble nature of the band wouldn’t necessarily look quite right if it were all perfect looking. As for Hell W10, the first word in its title is a neat summation of how it looks. With its origins mentioned earlier, this isn’t really a surprise, and any fan will happily put up with the many jumps, visual intruders and bad edits simply to be able to witness this curio.

Sound for the clips comes in two flavours, Dolby Digital 5.1 and also 2.0. The 5.1 mixes are for the most part a pleasant surprise, avoiding going over the top to simply and effectively boof up the sound. The subwoofwoof often goes spare on Simonon’s superb bass, while the rears aren’t overly utilised, keeping it all sounding fairly true to the originals. The stereo mix offers up close to what you’d get off CD, although it must be noted that the various sources used mean that no matter which audio track you opt for you’ll find some sounding better than others. Those which seem to have had the studio recordings dubbed over the top definitely fare better than those which were captured live – in fact variances in audio levels can be a tad annoying at times.

A mixed bag of extra bits has been sourced for this release, and any Clash buff should find them a joy to explore. First up is some promo footage dating back to the band’s first year of life, 1976. Totalling 7:09, three frenetic live performances are featured - 1977, White Riot and London’s Burning, with the odd bit of interview footage interspersed throughout. A live clip of their cover of I Fought the Law (2:20), nabbed from the film Rude Boy, is up next, another fine example of The Clash’s live prowess, and in pretty good shape visually. An almost surreal interview follows, culled from a 1976 episode of The London Weekend Show. A somewhat priggish, toffy-voiced presenter tries to punk it up a tad as she has a vague stab at discrediting the whole movement of the time – with Joe, Mick and Paul posing their way through the brief 2:58 running time quite magnificently. A discography of albums is also tacked on, complete with covers and track listings, and rounding out the package is a six-page foldout booklet, offering up a decent potted history of both the band and Hell W10, along with a dedication to the late Joe Strummer.

The Clash were one of the leaders of a movement which gave rock one hell of a needed reality check in the late ‘70s. In fact it’s no stretch to intimate that they, along with a few choice others, pretty much saved music and cleared the path for new wave, along with a much wider air of experimentation and variety in the music which has followed ever since. While perhaps not as vital as Westway to the World for those of a more historical, wishing to know the facts bent, this ramshackle collection of clips and bits and bobs should still sit proudly on the shelves of anybody who calls themselves a Clash fan.


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  •   And I quote...
    "This ramshackle collection of clips and bits and bobs should still sit proudly on the shelves of anybody who calls themselves a Clash fan…"
    - Amy Flower
      Review Equipment
    • DVD Player:
          Pioneer DV-535
    • TV:
          Sony 68cm
    • Receiver:
          Onkyo TX-DS494
    • Speakers:
          DB Dynamics Eclipse RBS662
    • Centre Speaker:
          DB Dynamics Eclipse ECC442
    • Surrounds:
          DB Dynamics Eclipse ECR042
    • Subwoofer:
          DTX Digital 4.8
    • Audio Cables:
          Standard RCA
    • Video Cables:
          Standard Component RCA
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