A Darker Electricity The Origins Of The Spiral Tribe Soundsystem

Written bySpiralTribes co-founder and visual artist, Mark Angelo Harrison, A Darker Electricity charts the infamous sound systems nomadic journey and the rapid escalation of their popularity and notoriety.

From small squat-scene parties in early 90s London to enormous warehouse raves and free festivals. The undercover police operation against them. The record deal with Youth. The creation of their community recording studio. The government stitch-up and their prosecution. The escape to Europe and the start of the teknival scene.

At the time, it was unclear why the UK government targeted theSpiral Tribetravelling sound system. Even after arresting many key members and launching one of Britains biggest court cases against them. Was it really because they were a marauding horde of anarcho-techno-pirates, their outlandish music calling a generation to rise up in rebellion against conservatism, convention, and even consensus reality?

Or was it because, as pioneers of the 1990s free party movement, championing the new British breakbeat and European techno sound, they were reclaiming social space in warehouses and out under the stars? Each weekend they pulled ever bigger crowds away from consumer culture. No superstar DJs, no door policy and everyone dancing together as equals. An inspiring, unifying force of creativity.

As Spiral Tribes co-founder and visual artist (or as the Crown Prosecutor described him, the criminal ringleader whod helped mastermind Britains biggest ever illegal rave at Castlemorton), Mark Angelo Harrison has a unique perspective to tell their inside story.

He vividly charts their nomadic journey and the rapid escalation of their popularity and notoriety. From small squat-scene parties in London to enormous warehouse raves and free festivals. From one little overloaded van to the mighty convoy of matt-black military vehicles that instigated the teknivals of Europe.