Network 23 (record label)
Network 23 was a record label founded by the Spiral Tribe sound system in 1994. It stopped in 1996.
History
In two years Network 23 released a number of records by members of Spiral Tribe under various aliases such as R-Zac, Stormcore, SP23, and Crystal Distortion. The Spiral Tribe sound came to be known as free tekno, also referred to as spiral hardcore, French hardcore and enimatek. The label also brought out records by invited artists such as Curley, Somatic Responses, Unit Moebius, Headcleaner and Les Boucles Etranges.
Influences
The first ten records were pressed at MZM in the Czech Republic since the company offered the cheapest price, but the sound quality is low. Nevertheless, most of these records have become classics, selling at a high price on auction sites. Some tracks are still played at parties 10–20 years after they were made. In an indication of the popularity of the label, in 2005 a new label, Network Repress was set up to rerelease hard to find classic tracks alongside new or unreleased music by the same artists. So far eight releases have been brought out, six by SP23, one by Crystal Distortion and one by Ixindamix.
Techno Import controversy
In 1997, commercial distributors Techno Import released a CD entitled Spiral Tribe The Sound of Teknival. The CD was advertised on television and sold at least 30,000 copies. Techno Import actually registered the word teknival as a trade name. Spiral Tribe members were not informed of this decision until the CD was already produced. They released flyers which began F**k Techno Import and stated Spiral Tribe is not for sale. Network 23 made all songs available as free downloads on their website.
Slogan
- "This is Network 23, the network that means business, now transmitting live to the world." (Opening line of Max Headroom)
See also
- Czechtek
- List of record labels
- SP23
- Suburbass