In Pursuit Of Repetitive Beats is a nostalgic exploration of the 80s British acid house movement and rave scene. Read on for our full impressions.
VR can uniquely transport you to moments in time like no other medium can. Beyond gaming lies a wealth of immersive experiences, experiences that don't always give you the same freedom, but still deliver immersive journeys – Astra, Emperor, Body of mineAnd Sen are a few favorites. Following its debut in 2022, I recently tried In Pursuit Of Repetitive Beats and got sucked in.
Getting started during the NewImages Festival at the event XR Market, it's easily my favorite “new” experience of this trip. Designed as a room-scale experience, I put on my headset, wore a haptic vest, and found myself in 1989. The room-scale setup lets you walk around to explore, but it also supports stick-based artificial locomotion and smooth turning of the camera .
I've always lived in the south of England, but In Pursuit Of Repetitive Beats taps into a wider British cultural phenomenon that's surprisingly recognisable. It can best be described as an interactive documentary that unfolds around you and explores the illegal side of the world Acid House Movement in 1980s Coventry. This short but captivating journey follows three rave enthusiasts looking for an all-night warehouse party.
The experience shifts across different scenes. One moment you're exploring a typical bedroom full of football posters or a police station before heading to that almost mythical warehouse. This is nicely combined with modern interviews from prominent acid house figures like MC Loud & Nasty, Tony McCook and more, and places them on flyers that you can physically pick up. Being largely unfamiliar with the history of the scene beforehand, I was drawn to their stories and these environments look amazing.
There is an impressive attention to detail that captures this era well. Developer East City Films regularly uses TV and radio broadcasts from 1989 to help recreate that era. One moment felt like I was walking into a visual synthesizer mixed with a radio tuner, and changing the station as I walked along. It was a pleasant surprise to hear old football scores that mentioned my home team, AFC Bournemouth.
It's a fascinating time capsule that has made me nostalgic for a time before I was alive. While it's not the longest experience at 45 minutes, I found myself still thinking about it almost a week later. I particularly liked how East City Films integrated haptic vest support, increasing immersion by syncing to the appropriate soundtrack.
After this demo, I spoke with director Darren Emerson, co-founder and CEO of East City Films, to find out more. Emerson is known for creating VR experiences full of social commentary, starting in the early days of modern VR with efforts like Witness 360: 7/7, Indefinite, Common ground and, more recently, Letters from Drancy.
The Coventry City of Culture Trust initially approached Emerson to create In Pursuit Of Repetitive Beats, which the Trust later co-funded with the British Film Institute (BFI). Although Emerson grew up in London, he wanted to ensure that this would be a lived experience that anyone involved in the rave scene at the time could have had.
I wasn't there in '89, but the process was the same. The story where you go to a friend's house: “Where are we going? What about this flyer? How do we find out where it is?” before you jump in a car and don't have a cell phone or internet…that's a lived experience. I wanted to represent that in '89, when it was much more important politically and culturally.
Part of recreating that era involves using real-life broadcasts, as Acid House organizers often used pirate radio stations to get their message across. We discussed the scene mentioned above where your physical position resembles that of a radio tuner.
“As a kid you would be fascinated because it didn't really make any sense; it was a code. Outside your bedroom there's a whole world that you don't really live in. You try the pirate radio stations, beyond classical music, news, cheesy '80s pop – all these different things. Then you finally get to the pirate radio that tells you where the rave is happening.
Saying I'm not the only one who leaves the experience feeling nostalgic, Emerson tells me how In Pursuit Of Repetitive Beats often resonates with fans of electronic and dance music.
“I think nostalgia is a big element in these types of stories; you can create really vibrant worlds that resonate with people.”
When asked why he prefers VR to more traditional filmmaking, he replied:
Emerson believes VR is about connections and emotion, which is why he focuses his work on communities. That's why he prefers VR to traditional filmmaking, and he believes that many music documentaries are too similar.
“After a while it gets really boring. My main thought was that I didn't want to hear anyone talk about it. I want to do it; I want to be there. How can I be there? The only way I can is I'll actually be there if I make it in VR. And of course I have people around who pick you up and give commentary, like interviewing talking heads, but they're in the room with you.
Since premiering in Coventry two years ago, In Pursuit Of Repetitive Beats has continued to tour numerous festivals, and East City Films is planning a new eight-stop tour soon. When asked if we'll ever see a home version of In Pursuit Of Repetitive Beats, I'm told East City is looking into it. However, the touring aspect creates additional considerations when releasing it.
As for future plans, I'm told another consideration before a home release considers adding co-location multiplayer “in an LBE sense.” Emerson came up with ideas for an endless rave that people could participate in as they pleased, alongside guest DJs. While it's already a great experience, I see the potential behind this idea, and I hope we won't have to wait long for a home launch.