Sisters with Transistors

Lisa Rovner's exploration of early electronic music and its female pioneers is one of the most acclaimed music documentaries of recent years: “Sisters with Transistors is your new favourite music doc,” Esquire said.

There is also something very special at stake here. Not only because the story has been so shamefully untold before, but also because the film opens up a flank of new knowledge with an unheard-of storytelling joy.

With Laurie Anderson as a guide, you'll have access to recording studios populated by composers and “knot twiddlers” such as Clara Rockmore, Daphne Oram, Bebe Barron, Pauline Oliveros, Maryanne Amacher, Eliane Radigue, Suzanne Ciani, Laurie Spiegel and Delia Derbyshire. Innovators armed with coil tape recorders, radio waves, theremins, oscillators and early synthesizers, which set sound on both the present and the future as early as the 1940s (sic!) , but which was largely forgotten when the electronic music was finally recognized and a male-dominated music industry began to see an artistic and commercial potential in it.

Directed by Lisa Rovner
Starring: Suzanne Ciani, Pauline Oliveros, Daphne Oram, Laurie Spiegel
Country/year: United Kingdom, 2020
Running time: 82 min.
Formato: DCP
Language: English Dialogue
Age limit: Allowed for all

Part of the series: Musikfilm & Bar
Gala screening on new Gnags documentary. Glen Hansard memorial display with 'Once'. And 'Sisters with Transistors' — award-winning tale of electronic music's female pioneers.