Rave, Rock And The Human Traffic Movie

The past few days feel like waking up and finding yourself back in the '90s. And there's no one else to blame for that but the Gallagher brothers.

A lot can be said about Oasis. From how they strived to become the new Beatles, to how they were essentially the only britpop band from the big four that embraced the problematic Cool Britannia, to how both of them are equally problematic individuals. But in the end, what remains is the music. And their music has been speaking for 30 years now, ever since the release of the groundbreaking Definitely Maybe. The immense and unstoppable global momentum they still have was proven when the confirmation of their reunion nearly broke the internet.

However, if we want to understand Cool Britannia, if we want to unravel the layers of British '90s pop culture, we have to focus on rave.

And naturally, someone might ask, what does rave have to do with rock?

The answer lies in Oasis's hometown, Manchester, and the transitional period from the multifaceted '80s to the revisionist '90s, where the Madchester movement reigned supreme. This movement was nothing more than the merging of rock narrative with the burgeoning rave scene, primarily expressed through acid house, and it gave us great bands like Happy Mondays, The Charlatans, and of course, The Stone Roses.

But rave wasn't just an endemic phenomenon in England; it had spread across the entire island. From Scotland to Wales and from there to Ireland. From 808 State to Primal Scream and from Jesus & Mary Chain to Inspiral Carpets.

Of course, cinema couldn't be absent from this pandemonium, along with documentaries and television by extension.

On the small screen, we had the epic episode of Spaced. In documentaries, the historic Loved Up. And on the big screen, Justin Kerrigan's indie masterpiece, Human Traffic. Which is nothing less than the Trainspotting of MDMA.

Wales, lots of ecstasy, lots of techno, and lots of criticism of Britain as it approached the 21st century.

The most must-watch film of its kind, a genre for which I will someday make a special list.

That's it, definitely watch it. Carl Cox is in it too. I mean, what more could you want?