Network 23 (record label)

Did You Know?

• Between 2005 and 2013, Network Repress brought out 24 releases by various artists from SP23, the new name of Spiral Tribe.
• Some tracks from Network 23 are still played at parties 10–20 years after they were made.

History

After leaving England for mainland Europe following the Castlemorton Common Festival and the subsequent trial, Spiral Tribe settled in Paris and established Network 23 as a non-profit communication channel opposing the mainstream. Over two years, the label released records by Spiral Tribe members under aliases including SP23, 69db and Crystal Distortion, with some tracks recorded in a mobile studio while traveling. The Spiral Tribe sound became known as free tekno, also called spiral hardcore, French hardcore or enimatek. Invited artists such as Curley, Somatic Responses, Unit Moebius, Headcleaner and Les Boucles Etranges also contributed. The first ten records were pressed at MZM in the Czech Republic due to low cost, resulting in low sound quality, yet most became classics sold at high prices on auction sites.

Techno Import controversy

In 1997, commercial distributor Techno Import released a CD titled Spiral Tribe The Sound of Teknival, advertised on television and manufactured in 30,000 copies. Techno Import had registered the word teknival as a trade name without informing Spiral Tribe members until after production. Spiral Tribe responded with flyers beginning "Fk Techno Import" and stating "Spiral Tribe is not for sale." This controversy, along with differing views within the collective, led to the winding up of Network 23.