Sonic Groove Podcast Adam X meets Crystal Distortion (Spiral Tribe / Network23) - Sonic Groove Podcast SGX023
In this latest addition to “Sonic Groove Electronic Music Podcast,” Adam X sits down with Simon Carter, aka Crystal Distortion, one of the main music makers behind the legendary illegal rave outfit Spiral Tribe. We start our discussion with Simon's entry into electronic music, his early music-making days as a member of Earth Leakage Trip on Hardcore imprints Moving Shadow and Rising High Records, and his subsequent involvement with Spiral Tribe. We then cover his collaborative projects with SP23 and R-zac, along with his solo work as Crystal Distortion.
We discuss Spiral Tribe's roaming events across England and the infamous Castle Morton rave, which had a massive impact on UK rave culture and nightlife, ultimately leading the UK government to pass the Criminal Justice Bill to stop illegal raves. The conversation then shifts to their years-long European rave tour, travelling in a caravan, throwing massive illegal raves, pressing records, and selling them directly to shops, many of which would later sell for large sums on eBay, long before rare techno vinyl became highly collectible.
The episode concludes with Simon's music-making adventures in the present.
Chapters and topics
• Simon’s introduction to house and techno music
• Early days of squatting and underground scene involvement
• Making music as Earth Leakage Trip
• Entry into Spiral Tribe and initial contributions
• Being called upon to produce early Spiral Tribe releases
• The Castlemorton rave and subsequent arrests of Spiral Tribe members
• How the event changed UK laws and the face of UK clubbing
• Simon heads to Berlin in 1992 after the Castlemorton rave
• Spiral Tribe members team up in Holland in 1993, working with Unit Moebius, and organizing events with I-F in The Hague
• Travelling through Europe in a caravan, throwing raves in the Czech Republic, Austria, Italy, the Netherlands, and then settling in France for massive events
• Coming to America, performing for Drop Bass Network and recording for the imprint
• Selling SP23 records to support DJing and lifestyle
• The increasing value of early SP23 releases
• SP23 releases and activities in the present day
🎙️ Host: Adam X
👤 Guest: Simon Carter / Crystal Distortion
🎬 Recording & Post-Production: Patrick DSP @ https://NeptuneMastering.com / Neptune Studios
📺 Published by Sonic Groove Podcast. 100% Human.
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https://sonicgroove.podbean.com/
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