Subject: (nyc) Modulations - "Musicians" taking a piss!
Reply-to: hauben@columbia.edu

Well saw Modulations tonight at the Quad Theater on 13th ST btw 5th
and 6th Aveues. Was kinda disappointed, cause while its neat to see 
many of our dj/music heros up on screen - hearing what they have to say is
kinda disappointing. Modulations is a "documentary" about electronic and 
dance music directed by the same person who did "Synthetic Pleasures," 
which I had not seen. It probably boils down to the fact that because I've
had an interest in electronic music since the early 90s, I've read up on
it and done my homework. This movie feels like it was put together too
quickly without the whole story - or at least a version that feels 
incomplete or even wrong in parts. An example is when one talking head is
describing HOUSE music as short for WAREHOUSE - which was a seminal club
in Chigcao. However House music is described as essentially disco. THey PLAYED
disco at the Warehouse, but really blew up the music - looping, extneding
records, bringing in new beats on a 909 or acid lines on a 303, etc.

Also hearing such people as FSOL  saying shit like "We are 
sacrificing ourselves"  (meaning the musicians) it is amazingly hypocritical 
when they've made a ton of cash by broadcasting over ISDN lines to parties -
almost the same as purely listening to a recording. Another off the wall
quote is one jungle producer saying that he thinks its stupid that some
believe techno was revolutionary and then goes on to say how insane and
revolutionary jungle is (along with talking about trashcan beats, ha! :-) )
The best line goes to Alec Empire who says something to the effect that all 
in all after the party is over nothing has been achieved! ;)

Obviously the visuals are cool, given we see tons of NYC shots, along with 
the love parade and other party scenes and shots of the scene in cities 
across the world. Otherwise I suggest waiting to see this on video
because the sound system is lacking in the Quad Theater as well.
 
Guest shots are made of dance and off-topic listees Gopal and Bettina at the
Let's Play Doctor outlaw from Brooklyn that got shut down last summer (or was
it 1996?) (Surgeon is show spinning.) In addition I believe I saw Tara
in one shot as well.

It's cool seeing shots of Carl Cox and Stacy Pullen up close when they 
are spining respectivly on Friday and Sunday at Twilo and Fantasia IV.

Once again, I think its a fun movie to see our scene spotlighted, but 
nothing new is learned, nor is the struture or form of the documentary
particularly enlightening - some good music none the less ;)

Rent it on video instead -- anyone know if it will come out??

.\.\ichael -- sentinel