{"title":"Network","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNetwork Records was a Rave music label based in Birmingham, England during the late 80's and early to mid 90's. Owned by Neil Rushton and Dave Barker, it played a significant role in the development of early Hardcore and British techno. The label hosted renowned artists such as True Faith, *Juan Atkins \/ Model 500*, *Derrick May \/ Mayday*, Cyclone, Rhythm On The Loose, MK, Neal Howard, Kevin Saunderson, Funky Green Dogs From Outer Space, Nexus 21, Altern8 and collaborated with labels like Underground Resistance, KMS, NuGroove and Serious Grooves. They also promoted the Bio Rhythms club night in Walsall.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn addition to their own releases, Network distributed smaller labels including Bizarre Inc., Manix Records UK , Dance Ecstasy 2001 , Ugly Music , Bassic Records , Hard Disk Drive , Soma Recordings Ltd., A.R.S., G-Force (3), Double F Double R Recordings Limited and First Choice. Other labels under the Network umbrella included Vinyl Solution (underground house), Rising High Records \u0026amp; Deep Distraxion (a more hardcore sister label), Rezerection (for trance releases) and Ibiza Recs \u0026amp; Phat Traxx.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe label initially partnered with Pinnacle for distribution but bought themselves out of the contract in 1992. In August 1993 Sony acquired 49\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"network-remixes-volume-one","title":"Network Remixes - Volume One","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Art and Soul of Network is well and truly captured on this beautiful collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFittingly for a remix selection, Network’s iconic artwork is reconstructed by Trevor Jackson, the designer of those original graphics. He has lovingly reworked the maverick indie house label’s distinctive branding for this 2 x 12 double album selection which rewinds to some of Network’s finest moments.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNetwork was based in Birmingham but as this release demonstrates had an international outlook and an alchemist touch for joining together disparate talents which lent itself well to the world of remixology.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDave Lee’s remix,when he was working under his Joey Negro pseudonym, of The Reese Project’s awesome Direct Me is arguably his finest ever work. The original track fused Detroit electronica with the Motor City’s ever present Soul Music stirrings. Dave simply made the superlative perfect . The result was not only an iconic Network release but one of House Music’s greatest recordings.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThere was possibly no better example of Network’s deft touch when it came to selecting unlikely combinations of people to work together than Day By Day. . Andrew Pearce, a raw but incredibly gifted 18 years gospel singer, was plucked of the streets of Wolverhampton and promptly despatched to Detroit where producer Kevin Saunderson and songwriter Ann Saunderson gave him the complete Reese Project template on the mesmerising Day By Day. Then Chez Damier \u0026amp; Ron Trent were drafted in to create their Urban Sound Gallery masterpiece of a remix. It truly is a gem.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAnn Saunderson is also central to Surreal’s hypnotic Happiness, not only as songwriter but as the vocalist too. Network then did their “let’s try this” thing by letting loose Italian house godfathers The Fathers Of Sound on the track parts. They threw down and created a progressive (but dreamy) house anthem that is to this day massively in demand.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSlo Moshun’s game changer (House slows down into Hip Hop then ramps up back into House) Bells Of New York was produced by Mark Archer \u0026amp; Danny Taurus.It became huge literally overnight. Various attempts to remix it were tried but in the end it was back to Mark who demonstrated that sometimes the original creator of a track is best able to re-imagine it by coming up with his much loved Beefy Bells remix.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eInner City’s stark and brutal Ahnonghay saw Kevin Saunderson going back to his Detroit Techno roots. Fittingly it was one of the UK’s disciples of that innovative Belleville Three era,Dave Clarke, who supplied the awesome remix contained here.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRhythmatic’s Mark Gamble created a British Bleep House anthem with the sledgehammer Demonz. The original won the support of John Peel with repeated BBC Radio plays underlining incessant club plays. Again it’s the original artist who does that remix thing best with Mark’s Sequel mix managing to improv his classic original.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNeal Howard’s Indulge was the debut Network release. His music sounded like it was from another planet and he was hailed as Chicago’s answer to Detroit genius Derrick May..Here we present Derrick’s Mayday remix of To Be Or Not To Be which was the flip to Indulge. This was Network’s debut release, and it is hard to imagine a label having a more euphoric greeting card.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe album concludes with a remix of a track recorded at a live concert in 1989.. To be clear THE TRACK that defined that year’s Acid House cultural revolution. Derrick May brought along Carl Craig to perform with him as Rhythim Is Rhyhim when invited to support Inner City at London’s Town And Country Club . Luckily Kool Kat - the predecessor to Network - recorded for posterity an historic rendition of Strings Of Life. Roll on a few years and Network went into the vaults and asked Ashley Beedle to work on the tape. He completely remoulded it and conjured up a new incarnation of Strings Of Life.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Network","offers":[{"title":"Black 12\"","offer_id":50429062840651,"sku":"2006626","price":29.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/NERM001-1024x1024_baee6b5a_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726837420"},{"product_id":"innovator-soundtrack-for-the-tenth-planet","title":"Innovator  Soundtrack For The Tenth Planet","description":"\u003cp\u003eWhen Network Records originally issued \u003ci\u003eInnovator \u003c\/i\u003ein 1991 we knew that the music contained within was timeless. At that time, of course, we had no grasp of how well Derrick’s epic soundscapes would time travel. We christened the collection - \u003ci\u003eSoundtrack For The Tenth Planet \u003c\/i\u003e- because it seemed like the music (and Derrick) had indeed arrived from another world.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe release has been acclaimed as iconic because Derrick, the madcap and maverick philosopher of Detroit Techno, introduced the concept of dance music with a musical and emotional agenda way beyond anything that had come before. Beats with beauty. Literally the strings of life. Where fellow musical geniuses Chic had previously urged everybody to simply \u003ci\u003eDance, Dance, Dance\u003c\/i\u003e mood alchemist Mayday merged simple yet cerebral dreamscapes with strange and urgent complex dance rhythms and invited us all to Dance And Dream. And in a strange juxtaposed way helped birth the hedonistic Acid House scene with classics\u003ci\u003e Nude Photo\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eStrings Of Life\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe energy is frenetic, but merged with a new age ambience. The gems collected on this offering were iconic in 1991, now they cause mass hysteria when Derrick turns his one time musical experiments, created in a tiny room in Detroit, and turns them into epic concerts with orchestras and musicians across the globe. \u003ci\u003eHand In Hand\u003c\/i\u003e existed in 1991 and we wanted to release it then, but it’s taken until now for the complete 13 minute recording to finally meet the world. It will be revered, because like all of Derrick May’s music it is life affirming. Emotions Electric indeed.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe original \u003ci\u003eInnovator\u003c\/i\u003e release was housed on one single slab of wax. This time around it's expanded it to two discs to make space for \u003ci\u003eHand Over Hand\u003c\/i\u003e and also so everything elsewhere - masterpieces remastered - can be presented in a complete and superior fashion. Whatever the tweaks, changes and updates etc all these years on, this music still sounds gloriously alien and groundbreaking. But there’s still no Tenth Planet.\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Network","offers":[{"title":"Black LPx2","offer_id":50444057280843,"sku":"1083411","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/d1ad1dfa-4d16-440b-ab02-229840981edd_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727024023"},{"product_id":"the-rhythm-of-life","title":"The Rhythm of Life","description":"\u003cp\u003eNexus 21's 1989 classic \u003ci\u003eThe Rhythm Of Life\u003c\/i\u003e LP is approaching it's 30th anniversary. For the uninitiated the LP is a perfect synthesis of UK rawness and motor-city funk, b-boy nous and sunrise soaked acid euphoria. Nexus 21's sole LP \u003ci\u003eThe Rhythm Of Life\u003c\/i\u003e is considered a classic for many reasons. Originally released in 1989 on the influential Blue Chip record label, and then purchased by Network when they signed Nexus 21 for (what became iconic) future recordings, the record span all of the above influences and styles into a unique rugged sonic tapestry that caused a sensation with DJ's and dancers on it's release, and for the subsequent 3 decades to follow.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMessrs Mark Archer and Chris Peat created an album that bore a handful of club classics, on both sides of the Atlantic. Their association with Detroit, and particularly Derrick May and Transmat, saw them go to the techno mecca to record some later material that will also be reissued in the wake of this 3 decade celebration of all things Nexus 21. \u003ci\u003eThe Rhythm Of Life\u003c\/i\u003e is easily one of the UK's most influential techno records, it's style, sound and attitude has reverberated through dance music across the years and this timely reissue will undoubtedly excite the old-school heads and the new-school appreciators of the real deal techno sound in all it's glorious forms.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNow, this incredible album has been repressed and remastered, and spread across 2 high quality slabs of vinyl. This essential reissue has been made with the full involvement of Mark Archer and the legendary Network Records with all tracks being sourced from the Nexus 21 DAT archive for maximum sonic playback quality. A true classic, in a new format, not to be missed.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Network","offers":[{"title":"Black | LP | x2","offer_id":50448587096395,"sku":"1080408","price":25.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/b65655cf-836a-4513-9694-92d4c1b5e5bd_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727093505"},{"product_id":"themes-for-tv-drama-the-music-of-robert-earley","title":"Themes For TV Drama: The Music Of Robert Earley","description":"\u003cp\u003eLancashire-born Robert Sharples is probably best remembered as the musical director of prototype TV talent show Opportunity Knocks, where he was frequently name checked on screen by host Hughie Green, but it was under the pseudonym Robert Earley that he provided memorable themes and incidental cues for a range of ITV drama series during the late ‘60s and early ‘70s. \u003ci\u003eThemes for TV Drama\u003c\/i\u003e brings together some of Earley's best-known compositions, ranging from the smokey, jazz-tinged Public Eye (perfectly encapsulating the down-at-heel milieu of investigator Frank Marker) to the brassy, urgent aggression of Special Branch. This EP is presented on 80g virgin vinyl featuring new transfers from original analogue tape elements. Mastering engineers Ray Staff and John Webber at Sir George Martin’s legendary AIR studios mastered the audio for this and cut the lacquers. The high quality pressing was done by the renowned Pallas pressing plant in Germany.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Network","offers":[{"title":"Black | LP","offer_id":50452949008715,"sku":"1170353","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/fbcd3d50-d2e8-4dd8-a1d6-784e2b64cec5_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727166773"},{"product_id":"bio-rhythm-3-re-indulge","title":"Bio Rhythm 3 (Re-Indulge)","description":"\u003cp\u003eIt’s not normal to take 31 years to release a follow up album. But then Network was never a normal sort of record label, and often opted for the quirky rather than the quick buck. The logo was launched in 1990 and that year, along with a slew of startlingly good singles, created and issued two \u003ci\u003eBio Rhythm\u003c\/i\u003e compilations, each of which showcased cutting edge USA techno rubbing shoulders alongside its’ sparse UK bleep counterpart.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAt the time the words quality and dance music compilations were not phrases shared that much. \u003ci\u003eBio Rhythm 1\u003c\/i\u003e and it’s almost instant follow up \u003ci\u003eBio Rhythm 2\u003c\/i\u003e bucked the trend with groundbreaking exclusive tracks, iconic minimal artwork and surreal sleeve notes.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThree decades on Network Records return with a brand-new Bio Rhythm compilation. Buoyed by a reappraisal of the role of bleep techno in the uk dance music story and a growing acceptance that Network was one of British dance music’s most significant labels of the early 1990s. Network have stepped back into the spotlight with a collection of timeless “dance music with bleeps” that’s every bit as alluring as its predecessors. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFittingly, much of the material comes from producers and remixers based in and around the Midlands, while there are also plenty of nods towards the label’s storied past scattered across the compilation. it begins with a brand-new re-edit of Neal Howard’s ‘Indulge’ – originally the first single to be released on Network – from Birmingham’s Discomendments and ends with a timely airing of the first compilation’s unofficial theme tune, C\u0026amp;M Connection’s Detroit-meets-Yorkshire classic ‘Bio Rhythms’. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Network","offers":[{"title":"Black | 12\" | x2","offer_id":50453634908491,"sku":"1137980","price":26.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/99fa0b72-b9db-498b-a1e8-9d4c0be16751_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727174782"},{"product_id":"progression-logical","title":"Progression Logical","description":"\u003cp\u003eNetwork’s 30th Anniversary celebration continue with a dig in the vaults finding three timeless treasures from UK Techno pioneers Nexus 21.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe \u003ci\u003eProgression Logical\u003c\/i\u003e 12” highlights how skilfully the Stafford duo - Mark Archer and Chris Peat - combined their love of Detroit inspired Techno with North of London Bleep culture.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is the first time the much loved original mix of \u003ci\u003eSelf Hypnosis\u003c\/i\u003e (that track with the ice cream vans sound)has been released on a commercial 12”. Up till now it could only be found on a sampler 12” for one of Network’s iconic bio-rhythm albums, and on that LP Itself, with a remix being done for a subsequent 12”.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThat original still sounds amazing. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Network","offers":[{"title":"White | 12\"","offer_id":50510918549835,"sku":"1112843","price":10.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/927906da-a5bc-4e4d-b514-c8fa42b80d8d_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727881999"},{"product_id":"themes-from-stingray","title":"Themes From Stingray","description":"\u003cp\u003eOne of the last projects undertaken by the Network label was the 60th Anniversary Blu-ray set for Stingray which was released in two versions - the Deluxe and Super Deluxe.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eEach version was packed with extras but the Super Deluxe had a music item as part of the set – a 7” single of Themes From Stingray containing cues for the original soundtrack as performed by Barry Gray.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eBut the 7” single was not included in the set, but to be posted separately to customers who had pre-ordered the Super Deluxe set. When the single was manufactured, it was housed in a card envelope with a sticker placed on it with the title, catalogue number\u003cbr\u003eand barcode so that all that needed adding was the address label before posting.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eAlthough the Super Deluxe set sold out, there was some stock of the 7” single, still housed in its card envelope left in the warehouse, Network are no longer trading, and these singles have now been rescued from potential destruction!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Network","offers":[{"title":"7\" - Aqua","offer_id":56455380926795,"sku":"R9375-7677","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/image004_60613623-83be-4cc7-9937-a9869b5c343b.png?v=1770123337"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/collections\/test_b9c79d17_thumbnail_4096_121fd1e0-2ff7-49c7-a06c-81b4e4ddbd16.jpg?v=1726837398","url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/de\/collections\/network.oembed","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}