Network 23 Vinyl & CDs

Review: Spiral Tribe's Network 23 label take a hyper-kinetic trip back into the archives for this 12", pulling out classic material from core members Crystal Distortion and 69db. 'Jailbreak 96' originally came out as an untitled track on 1995 release Part 2 and it sounds as punishing as ever as Simon Carter rides bloated kicks and annihilating textures turned up to a rampant tempo. We're not sure on where 'Fridgetrax 2' was pulled from, but it's a vintage slice of freetekno nonetheless, piling on the psychoactive pressure in a style which aligns with the harder, faster strains of techno knocking about these days. On the flip, 69db's 'Night Life' keeps the pressure up - free party fodder doesn't get any more real than this.

Review: The third welcome release in the vital NETWORK 23 remastered repress series comprises another three essential tracks. The A-Side showcases 'Panasonic,' a solo cut by Crystal Distortion that is pure experimental techno-madness. Flip it over and on the B-side you will find two tracks by 69db. 'Water' is a fizzing, dense, caustic mix of impenetrable rhythm and groove, and the second 'Drivin' is a collaboration with the original Spiral Tribe member, Meltdown Mickey, that again sounds like little else with its skittish loops, fizzing synth textures and unrelenting rhythms.

Review: The fourth of a series of reissues from Network 23 - which focuses on classic tracks by and adjacent to R-ZAC (Crystal Distortion and 69db) of Spiral Tribe, and which made up the bulk of the OG rave collective's live sets - the 'NET23 04' EP is a mesmerising sauna of tekno entrainments and mental sonic mares. Starting with a subtle mind-melter from Crystal Distortion, 'ESV', we move into increasingly propagandistic vibes from R-Zac - whose 'LSP23' sounds like a numbers station stuck on loop and set to a technoization - and then followed by 69db and Meltdown Mickey's 'Drivin', which returns things to their initial minimal but maddening state.

Review: It is 30 years since Curley and R-Zac joined forces to cook up their Sahara Tekniq EP way back in 1994. Surely, the legendary Dutch free party scene hero is sadly no longer with us, but with R-Zac he very much laid down a definitive blueprint for this type of textural, dense techno. It is the first of a big series of newly remastered reissues from the Network23 label and it offers up four visceral, high-impact, live-sounding techno workouts that are packed with anxious synths and whirring machine sounds, unrelenting drums and more which is sure to bring real chaos to the clubs.

Review: 'NET 23EP5' on Network 23 Records sees more lost classics from the Spiral Tribe production squad getting a reissue. On Side-1, Crystal Distortion's 'Beat Frequency' (2nd mix) wastes no time in establishing its dominance with a fast loop that's both banging and driving. Pushing the boundaries of intensity and percussion, this track is sinister in its execution, dumbfounding listeners with its relentless energy. Following suit, 'Drumkode' delves into heavy bass territory, infusing techno with elements of EBM, resulting in a raw and powerful sonic experience. Flipping to Side 2, 69db's "The Tunnel (Kgb 001)" offers up precise techno craftsmanship, characterised by mechanical sounds layered intricately to create a hypnotic atmosphere. Closing the EP, 'Trip-Le Time' takes listeners on a sci-fi journey, with broken beats and intriguing rhythms that defy convention.