First Run-Icarus Films Keeps Pace with Two Movies Chronicling Electronic Music History

Movie Reviews

The Last Angel of History
a film by john akomfrah
first run icarus films www.frif.com

If DJ culture is your thing, this is a movie for the heads. if you really
want to understand the evolution of the music; how the parallels are drawn
you need to watch this influential & inspirational movie. Although not made
specifically for DJ's, rather as a sort-of film essay on the pan-african
experience, it incorporates some of the most prolific dj's alive. Among the name checked & interviewed are Juan Atkins, Derrick May, DJ Spooky, Carl
Craig & Goldie. Also discussed are the parallels between Science Fiction &
George Clinton's Funk movement, Sun Ra in Jazz & Lee Perry's reggae
excursions. There's alot of intellectual speak here and no shortage of it
comes from Kodwo Eshun, who also contributed much to Modulations & Better
Living Through Circuitry. An educational film, short enough to hold the ADD
generation's attention span, with plenty of quick visual cuts/effects & a
cool soundtrack. recommended to those on a quest for more knowledge of the
roots of early american techno. and anybody interested in afro-futurism.

The future is not what it used to be
a film by mika taanila
first run icarus films www.frif.com

Another culture-defining intellectual documentary from First Run. If
experimental electronic music production, computers & art are your thing
this is the film for you. A subtitled documentary about Finnish pioneer of
the electronic age Erkki Kureniemmi. It chronicles his his latest project:
collecting everything; a kind of mass documentation of his life so that it
can be input into a computer to debut his digital self or 'virtual persona'
in July 2048. A very interesting film, much in the vein of Iara Lee's
Synthetic Pleasures but even more abstracted. As a documentary it can be a
little hard to follow, but artistically very appealing. A great little piece
of obscure history. Check it out.

(these films can be rented from First Run for a nominal fee. purchased they
are a bit pricey, as most educational films are. check out www.frif.com for
more info)