The San Francisco Chronicle
APRIL 12, 1998, SUNDAY, SUNDAY EDITION

SECTION: SUNDAY DATEBOOK; Pg. 36



HEADLINE: S.F. FILM FESTIVAL

Open Your Eyes and Ears To These Music-Themed Movies ''Modulations'' -- Exploring the diverse roots of today's electronica means navigating a circuitous route from Germany's Kraftwerk to the South Bronx's Afrika Bambaataa. It also means catching up with practitioners such as DJ Spooky and Roni Size, who probably weren't even known when filming for this movie started. Director Iara Lee has put together a cogent picture of the streams of experimental music that flowed together to create the new sound of electronic music -- from Robert Moog to Prodigy, from hip-hop pioneer Arthur Baker to dance-music maestro Moby -- all splashed together on a bright, throbbing canvas of sound and film, a vivid pastiche that reflects the rugged vitality of the music.

74 minutes.