A Film About Studio Electrophonique Review

An essential understanding of how documentaries can be used as entertaining education tools, A Film About Studio Electrophonique is just that. A film about a studio that birthed some of the best of Sheffield’s music scene. Pulp, The Human League, ABC, and an endless flurry of new and creative ideas under the watchful, hobbyist eye of Ken Patten. It is not a story told before, nor one that would have been had it not fallen into the lap of director James Taylor. His work with the likes of those gracious enough to settle into a retelling of an important piece of colloquial music history is just as important as the man at the core of this deep dive.

Because that is what matters most to many music documentaries that take themselves through the streets that are still alive with history. Much like Pulp: A Film About Life, Death and Supermarkets, there is an understanding that community is core. Heaven 17, Clock DVA and The Human League, born and raised in the boom of a working-class town and creating new and unique musical events. Ken Patten, the legend himself, was core to much of that success. He is depicted here as a man that threw opportunity to those that fancied their chances and succeeded. A nice piece of reading toward the end of the documentary (which has narration from Sean Bean to open and close the brisk piece) showcases just how great a success these bands went on to, and many credit Patten for that. It is clear to see why that is, and Taylor does a tremendous job of showcasing it. 

Bits of kit and technology that were still in good nick are thrown onto the screen showcasing exactly how and where the magic happened. An extension to a council flat housed a studio that propelled the likes of Pulp and The Human League to their inevitable stardom. That much is a treat to watch and hearing anecdotes from those who new him best is a treat. Jarvis Cocker makes a handful of lovely appearances to whittle off some anecdotes that feel similar to his book, Good Pop, Bad Pop. At the same time, Taylor also successfully navigates the early years of The Human League. What A Film About Studio Electrophonique opens the door to, though, is just how many individuals like Patten have existed.  

Where does the unsung hero of music lie? For someone like Patten, whose legacy goes unknown to himself after he sadly passed before many of the musical groups he aided hit it big, it is a treat to explore his life and dedication. His hobbyist nature, his work with Radio Sheffield and the big exploration that comes from dedicated, quality documentary filmmaking. James Leesey, otherwise known as Studio Electrophonique, is a dependable and charming lead for the documentary too, driving around and dedicating his and Taylor’s time to uncovering an unsung Sheffield legend. A Film About Studio Electrophonique is just as important as the man it hopes to bring into the spotlight, because those legends are often the crux or turning point of artists people still listen to and love today.