Modulations: Cinema for the Ear


Modulations: Cinema for the Ear is a 1998 American documentary film on the history of electronic music. It is accompanied by a soundtrack album and the 2000 book Modulations: A History of Electronic Music by Peter Shapiro. The project was directed by Iara Lee, the maker of the documentary film Synthetic Pleasures.

Reception

In a negative review, Ron Wells of Film Threat wrote, "It's ironic that a film about music you stay up all night listening to, just put me to sleep."
Stephen Holden of The New York Times was more positive, writing, "espite its shortcomings, Modulations is an invaluable primer that begins to make sense of a rapidly changing sonic world that in many people's minds is only a grating, intimidating jumble of unwelcome noise."

Soundtrack

  1. "I Feel Love" – Donna Summer
  2. "Planet Rock" – Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force
  3. "No UFO's" – Model 500
  4. "Simon from Sydney" – LFO
  5. "Strings of Life" – Rhythm Is Rhythm
  6. "Yeah" – Jesse Saunders
  7. "Amazon 2-King of the Beats" – Aphrodite
  8. "Stormbringer" – Panacea
  9. "The Shadow" – Rob & Goldie
  10. "Luxus 1-3" – Ryoji Ikeda
  11. "Atomic 2000" – Coldcut
  12. "Kritische Masse 1" – To Rococo Rot