`The Future us Unwritten' is Julian Temple's documentary film about the late great Joe strummer and is of `The Filth and the Fury' rather than `The Great Rock'N'Roll Swindle' template. The Soundtrack album also serves to tell the story of Joe mixing his own songs with the songs that inspired him and linking it all together with sound bites of Joe from various interviews and the links he made as a DJ for the BBC World Service with his occasional show `London Calling'.
Joe's own cannon is well represented here with The 101ers (Joe's first recording band) `Keys to your Heart' and early Clash with previously un-released demo versions of `White Riot' and `I'm So Bored with the USA'. The Clash's reggae influence is showcased with the single `Armagideon Time' and even the Clash Mark Two (usually buried by Strummer historians) are represented here with the unreleased (In the) Pouring Rain'. Joe's soundtrack work is highlighted with `Omotepe' from Walker and the brilliant `Trash City' recorded as The Latino Rockabilly War for Permanent Record. Joe's later work with the Mescalero's is represented with tracks from both the LP's released before Joe's untimely death.
Joe varied influences from Rock'N'Roll through Folk, Reggae to world music are shown here with Elvis Presley, Eddie Cochran, Tim Hardin, Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan, Nina Simone, U-Roy, Andres Landeros and Ernest Ranglin. Surprise hit of the collection is an Arabic version of Clash classic `Rock the Casbah' recorded by Rachid Taha.
A great record telling a great story of a great musical icon. The future is unwritten, the past was recorded, the revolution will be televised.