Just perfect. Martin Newall is a national treasure, just most people are too unaware to see the magic beneath their feet, so to speak. But not director Graham Bendel. Bendel knows magic when he sees it, and has the smarts to document those rare bright sparks, who've ploughed their own furrows, without the need or desire to be part of the glittering mire of "celebrity".
Bendel also knows that giving his subject matter the chance and space to put across their unique vision is paramount above all else. It's truly refreshing to see those who were their and making said noise being given centre stage, over an endless parade of painfully ernest, and normally more famous, talking heads, that plague most music documentaries. That said, a certain Mrs Ayres polite refusal to appear in the film is both disappointing and hilarious. But such moments throughout the film are a brilliant glimpse of who is behind the camera. As much as any documentary of this nature is a portrait of its star, it's also a portrait of the symbiotic relationship that fuels art. Without a listener or viewer art remains intangible. Bendel takes on the obscure nature of Newell's career and gloriously esoteric world and makes it real. So real you feel you could be huddled round a table, in a pub in Wivenhoe, being regaled with stories and jokes by Martin himself.
Newall is not only important as a musician and poet, but as a true outsider voice and champion of those who live outside the norms of society. I'm truly grateful as a fellow aspie and dyspraxic that neither Bendel nor Newell shyed away from the subject and embraced it full on. It was a breathe of fresh air to see that autism portrayed as something other than a death sentence, that it doesn't mean you can't achieve your dreams or be successful, no matter how outside the reins of so called normality.
If the mark of quality and success can be measured by Brian Eno's now legendary maxim of: "The first Velvet Underground album only sold 10,000 copies, but everyone who bought it formed a band", then Bendel and Newell have surely succeeded. I cannot be alone in discovering the magic of Newell and feeling that those dreams of making music are so much more palpable, knowing that people like Newell exist and have been feverishly making his music, on his own terms, is all the encouragement and inspiration a person could need. And for that, I say thank you to both Bendel, Newall and all who sailed in the glorious ship known as Cleaners from Venus.
Upstairs Planet is a true one off, about an even truer one. I'm looking forward to exploring more of Bendel's work and hope more fab documentaries are to come.