69DB (IMPROVISED LIVE)
Labels: Network 23, Spiral Tribe
"Long before the rise of hard, hypnotic dance music as a dominant genre, there was 69db." — Dekmantel, 2024
A key innovator in the 1990s Hardtec and Tribe scenes, 69db has been pushing the boundaries of live improvised sets since 1991. As a founding member of Spiral Tribe and R-Zac, he played a pivotal role in shaping the underground rave culture and co-founded Network 23 Recordings, a label that defined the sound of the free party movement in the 1990s. Today, Network 23 continues to inspire a new generation of hard techno producers.
The renewed interest in 90s hard techno has been reflected in record sales. In 2023 alone, 69db released four EPs on Berlin’s Sound Metaphors and a double EP, along with a five-record box set, on Rotterdam’s PRSPCT label — all of which sold out. Responding to this demand, he and his R-Zac partner, Crystal Distortion, launched the “23 Records or Bust!” series, reissuing 23 records from their 90s catalog. The first nine releases sold out in under a year, proving the timeless appeal of their work.
In early 2024, 69db debuted Rooted Sky under his new project, Wave Arising, in collaboration with movement specialist Kynsie Serre. This project blends ambient, tribal, experimental, and hard techno, further expanding his live improvisational approach. The Wave Arising Liveset by 69db, praised for its fusion of hard tribal techno with dub techniques, has already garnered critical acclaim, with Resident Advisor naming it one of the standout performances at Dekmantel 2024.