Product Details

• Actors: Arthur Baker, Afrika Bambaataa, Carl Cox, David Kristian, Derrick May
• Directors: Iara Lee
• Writers: Peter Shapiro
• Producers: George Gund
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Wea Corp
• VHS Release Date: May 18, 1999
• Run Time: 75 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00000IPG3
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #404,148 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

From The New Yorker

Iara Lee's compelling documentary chronicles how sound technology has eclipsed traditional modes of performance in much recent pop music. Without passing aesthetic judgments, Lee focusses on how the manipulation of sound has allowed d.j.s and sound mixers to fill the spot once reserved for composers, sometimes with impressive creativity. "Electronic music is the hot-rodding of the nineties," declares synthesizer pioneer Robert Moog, and the film's hyperactive editing, by Paula Heredia, underscores the visceral thrill his comment implies. To anyone who's been engrossed in the pop scene for the past three decades, this should prove a nostalgic, and often enlightening, hip-hop down memory lane. But music lovers not drawn to youth culture should check it out, too: in a mere seventy-five minutes they'll get a beautifully crafted précis of sonic experimentation and will sustain no hearing loss in the process. -James M Keller
Copyright © 2006 The New Yorker

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A MUST FOR ALL ELECTRONIC MUSIC FANS, December 25, 1999

By 

Garrett M Schultz (Atlanta) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Modulations [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This video isn't perfect but it's the best so far in covering the entire spectrum of electronic dance music. It goes so far as to actually showing the Roland keyboard factory! There's multiple interviews with legendary pioneers from decades ago along with today's new artists. There's coverage of Love Parade in Berlin and various other raves. Just about every style of dance music is represented. Drum and Bass and House probably got the most attention. It breaks down to the smallest components of electronic music and how artists get and arrange samples. It's a great introduction to electronic music for those who don't quite understand it yet and a great history lesson to those of use who already love it.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An ultra-condensed history of electronic music, August 31, 2003

By 

P. Gunderson (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Modulations: Cinema for the Ear (DVD)

"Modulations" is a very fast-paced documentary about the past, present, and future of electronic music. Because it is so condensed, lacks narrative voice-over, and features so many people, you'll be able to watch this one again and again and always discover something new.

Please do look past the very cheesy cover--it doesn't do justice to what's on the DVD. While rave and commerical acts like Fatboy Slim do get covered, you'll also find great footage of Pierre Henry, Genesis P. Orridge, and Giorgio Moroder (how often do you get to put those three names in a single sentence?).

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the only film on electronic music worth seeing!, May 13, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Modulations [VHS] (VHS Tape)

anyone who is interested in electronic music needs to see this movie! even if your not into electronic music, after seeing this movie you will be! its got everyone : john cage, stockhausen, juan atkins, roni size, spooky, derrick may, panacea, prodigy, moby, mix master mike the list goes on and on and on