Join us for a screening of I Dream of Wires, followed by a panel discussion with Lewis Cook, Suzi Cook, and Scott Myles! This event is presented as part of programme of events responding to Scott Myles’s Head in a Bell exhibition at GoMA.

The screening is presented in partnership with Glasgow Life at Kelvin Hall.

I Dream Of Wires is an independent documentary about the history, demise and resurgence of the modular synthesizer, featuring interviews with over 100 modular musicians, inventors and enthusiasts, including Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails), Gary Numan, Vince Clarke (Erasure), Morton Subotnick, Chris Carter (Throbbing Gristle), Daniel Miller, Carl Craig, Flood, Cevin Key (Skinny Puppy), James Holden, Factory Floor, Legowelt, Clark, John Foxx and Bernie Krause, as well as modular manufacturers Doepfer, Modcan, and Make Noise. 

I Dream of Wires begins with an historical primer, exploring the early development of modular synthesizers from pioneering companies Moog Music Inc. and Buchla and Associates, right through to the near-extinction of these instruments, brought on by the introduction of portable, digital synthesizers in the ’80s. From there, the rebirth of the modular synthesizer is retraced, leading into the phenomenal resurgence of the modular synthesizer. Along the way is some in-depth exploration of the passions, obsessions and dreams of people who have dedicated part of their lives to this esoteric electronic music machine. What started out as a “vintage-revival scene” in the ’90s has grown into an underground phenomena with a growing market of modular obsessives craving ever more wild and innovative sounds and interfaces. Today, the modular synthesizer is no longer an esoteric curiosity or even a mere music instrument — it is an essential tool for radical new sounds and a bona fide subculture.

Although April 26 was the world premiere of I Dream Of Wires‘ 90 minute theatrical cut (at Moogfest), a 4-hour Special Edition cut of the film, I Dream Of Wires: Hardcore Edition, was released on DVD and BluRay in late-2013, and has already become an underground, grassroots sensation amongst electronic musicians and fans, with high profile reviews and coverage from the likes of NPR, Arte/Tracks, Pitchfork, The Wire, and FACTmag. Despite its imposing 4-hour length and ultra-niche target market, the Hardcore Edition (“for the hardcore modular synth and electronic music fanatics”) has proven an independent hit. Now, stripped of the Hardcore Edition‘s techy excesses, I Dream Of Wires‘ theatrical cut is set to bring the fascinating story of the modular synthesizer, a story driven by passionate and innovative people, to the masses. 

Additional screenings have been lined up in Sweden, Slovakia, Poland, and Australia, plus festival bookings including East End Film Festival (London, UK), SONAR Festival (Barcelona, Spain), CIMMfest (Chicago, USA), TodaysArt (The Netherlands), In-Edit (Barcelona, Spain), Berlin Atonal (Berlin, Germany), and MUTEK (Montreal, Canada).

I Dream of Wires

96 min | Directed by Robert Fantinatto | Produced by Jason Amm | Written by Robert Fantinatto & Jason Amm

Website: idreamofwires.org | Vimeo: vimeo.com/idreamofwires