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Dateline: 06/22/98 http://ravehousetech.miningco.com/ FROM RAVEHOUSE TECHNO We were thinking about how hard it is to actually describe the whole techno/rave culture to somebody who has never taken part in, or even heard of it. It is intruiguing, and now that it has become such a large, worldwide subculture, should be studied. What are the aspects and concepts that drive the culture? Why does music play the central role, and why are there so many types of techno music? Like anything else you see on cable, it is a part of mankind and someone should do a recorded documentary on it, right? Well, director Ira Lee has done just that. And a fine job at that. Modulations captures interviews with almost all the key players that have helped shape the sounds of techno music and its culture. DJs, artists, promoters, and even the ravers themselves provide input as to how, why, and where techno came from, why it formed, how it is treated, and the future of the music. High points of the film include the philosophies behind ambient music, with interviews including John Cage, Can, Scanner, Terre Themlitz, Bill Laswell, Autechure, Future Sound of London, and a look back at Stockhausen during the 30's and 40's with his experimentations in sound. The disco-to-house movement is explored with some help from New York's Frankie Knuckles and other Chicago DJs. Drum and Bass is given a big spotlight, showing the fusion of all genres of techno into a smattering of beats, finally blowing up into the severe German-based forms of techno including hardcore drum and bass and ultimately the 200+ poundings of gabber. The film covers its ground well and is touring throughout Film Festivals around the U.S., so be on the lookout for it. Ira Lee has also produced a previous film entitled Synthetic Pleasures, another techno documentary with an impressive soundtrack to boot. For more information and articles/reviews of Modulations, check out these sites:
Official Modulations site from Caipirinha films Film credits, artist bios, electronica timeline, and more about the film.
Review from the Sundance 1998 Film Festival Nice review from Trevor Groth of the Sundance Channel. Interview with Ira Lee, the Director from IndieWire. Iara Lee in RealAudio about Modulations Same Trevor Groth review, but with RealAudio snippets of Ira Lee's talking about the film.
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