Network 23 2025 EP 03

R Zac aka Crystal Distortion and 69db were pioneers of the hard-tech and tribe techno sub-genres that defined the free party scene in the early 90s. It’s a sound back en vogue right now, which is why some of their early works are being reissued on their own Network 23. This latest a real white knuckle ride starting with ‘Bring Back The Poing’ which is dense with slamming kicks, ghoulish vocals and screwed up synth textures. ‘Sleeping People’ is dark and destructive as it works to a frenzied, hyperdriven peak and ‘Social Media Expert’ switches up the texture to get more gloopy, synthetic and wired as it bubbles and boils endlessly over edgy kicks. ‘Journey You’re On’ is the most stripped back of the lot with its tin-pot hits and drums so fast they feel they might fall over on themselves.