On more than one occasion I have been berated by my friends for my lack of musical knowledge, and I am ashamed to say that when it comes to talking about the latest releases or even old legends I usually have no idea what they’re talking about. But even someone as musically-challenged as I am recognises the name Creation Records.

One of the most influential British indie record labels ever, it barely lasted 17 years but the effect it had on British, and worldwide music, lives on till this day. Described by founder, Alan McGee as the “ultimate fucked-up family” Creations Records signed bands such as My Bloody Valentine, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Primal Scream, Oasis and they did this all in a haze of drugs and booze.

They won worldwide recognition as an important indie label and released some of the most decade-defining albums of the time, but it couldn’t last forever and Creation eventually started to crumble under the constant threat of bankruptcy and McGee’s breakdown caused by his drug addiction.

According to NME when Danny O’Connor first approached Alan McGee about doing a documentary on the label he reportedly got what he calls the standard Creation response – “fuck off!” But eventually he managed to change his mind and Upside Down – The Creation Records Story was made.

Tracing the label from its humble beginnings to the height of its success and finally to its demise in 1999, with no narrator the story is told by the people who were actually there – the founders and the bands.

Impressively cut with not a second wasted, O’Connor has done an amazing job at capturing the spirit of what Creation Records represented, what they were trying to do and what it must have been like to live through it.

Upside Down shows us a story of highs and lows, inspiration and tragedy, genius and stupidity, and for the music enthusiasts among you it should not be missed. But even for people like me, who until watching Upside Down couldn’t have named more than one band Creation had signed, it’s worth watching for the brief insight it gives into what was one of the most defining eras of our musical history.

Upside Down – The Creation Records Story id released April 29th