Altern-8

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Altern-8
Genre(s) Techno
Rave
Hardcore
Years active 1989 - 1993
2004 -
Members
Mark Archer
Chris Peat

Altern-8 is a breakbeat hardcore duo band featuring Mark Archer and Chris Peat. They were one of the UK rave bands of the late 1980s and early 1990s whose trademark was loud electronic tracks with a heavy bass line. Altern-8's members wore facemasks and chemical warfare suits. The band was signed to Network Records based in Stratford House, Birmingham, England.

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[edit] History

Altern-8 was formed in 1989, as Nexus 21 (a name chosen because of its "technoey" sound), when both members were 21. According to Archer, the band was already proto-hardcore rather than bleep techno. From the outset the band's objective was to develop a style which was more dancefloor or breakbeat-orientated. However, sales of the debut album Rhythm Of Life were poor and the decision was made to change the name to Altern-8, accompanied by a corresponding change in musical direction.

Influenced by the musical elements of the Detroit techno artists Derrick May, Juan Atkins and Kevin Saunderson, as well as the Chicago sound of Phuture and early techno heroes Kraftwerk, Altern-8 tunes changed the world of dance music, influencing many artists, with their mixture of the sounds of the Roland TB-303, 808 and 909 keyboards. At the time in the UK, outdoor rave events were legal, and Altern-8 had a reputation for turning up to play at major unofficial events. They helped to define trends and anthems in hardcore techno with music that became faster, relying more heavily on bass and volume. The use of more bass and eclectic noises gradually evolved Altern-8's music away from the earlier house music style. The duo, dressed in chemical warfare suits and dancing "like electrified monkeys", took part in a large number of live performances.

Notable Altern-8 tracks include "Activ-8", "E-vapor-8", "Frequency", "Brutal-8-E", "Armageddon", "Move my body", "Hypnotic St-8" and "Infiltrate 202". The band produced an album on the Network Records label in 1992 called Full On... Mask Hysteria. After disbanding in 1993 they later regrouped for a comeback tour on which they were rumoured to have played a midnight rave set in the middle of a country farm.

In 1992, Peat entered as a candidate for the Stafford constituency in the General Election representing the Hardcore (Altern8-ive) party. He polled 158 votes and finished in fourth place. In 1993, Archer began producing as Slo Moshun with Danny Taurus, responsible for Bells of N.Y., and Xen Mantra.

Full On... Mask Hysteria by Altern-8
Full On... Mask Hysteria by Altern-8

Altern-8's somewhat surreal image made for dramatic photographs and videos, but the same PR that helped to sell their music was eventually used against the rave movement, as the UK tabloid press published stories about the dangers of ecstasy, illegal raves and their impact on the countryside, resulting in the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.

[edit] Quotes

From Andrew Harrison of Select Magazine:

IS IT POSSIBLE TO TAKE ALTERN-8 SERIOUSLY? It's impossible not to. Because behind the rave pantomime and the giant robots and the mask hysteria, this is music for a different generation. These people never wasted their lives waiting for the next punk to arrive. 1988 was their Year Zero. and it's still here. All you have to do is close your eyes.

This is about people with Kraftwerk and Pierre, Transmat and WARP, 808, 909 and 303 encoded in their DNA. This is a live transmission of the beat you can't defeat, sampled over and over and hideously mutated. If you don't understand it, you don't deserve to. This is the phuture, right now, and THIS is the sound of Altern-8.

[edit] Discography

  • Overload (album)|Overload (1990) 12", EP Network Records
  • Activ 8 (Come With Me) (1991) 12" Network Records
  • Activ 8 (Come With Me) (1991) CD, Maxi Rough Trade Germany
  • Activ 8 (Come With Me) (1991) 7" Network Records
  • Activ 8 (Come With Me) (1991) CD, Maxi Network Records
  • Activ 8 (Come With Me) (1991) Cass, Single Network Records
  • Frequency (1991) 12", Ltd Network Records
  • Frequency/Give It to Baby (1991) 12", Ltd Network Records
  • Infiltrate 202 (1991) 7", Single Network Records
  • Remixed Vertigo EP (1991) 12", EP Network Records
  • The Vertigo EP (1991) 12", EP ZYX Records
  • The Vertigo EP (1991) CD, Maxi Network Records
  • The Vertigo EP (1991) CD, EP ZYX Records
  • The Vertigo EP (1991) 12", EP, Ltd, Sil Network Records
  • The Vertigo EP (1991) 12", EP, MP, Ltd, Sil Network Records
  • The Vertigo EP (1991) 12" EP Network Records
  • Brutal-8-E (1992) CD, Maxi Virgin Records America, Inc
  • Brutal-8-E (1992) 12", Promo Network Records
  • Brutal-8-E (1992) 12" Circa Records Ltd
  • Brutal-8-E (1992) CD, Maxi, Promo Network Records
  • Brutal-8-E (Groove Corporation Remixes) (1992) 12", Promo Network Records
  • Brutal-8-E (Mustard Edition) (1992) CD, Single, Dig Network Records
  • Brutal-8-E (Orange Edition) (1992) 12" Network Records
  • Brutal-8-E (Purple Edition) (1992) 7" Network Records
  • Brutal-8-E (Radio Edition Promo) (1992) CD, Maxi Network Records
  • Brutal-8-E (Remixes) (1992) 12" Virgin Records America, Inc
  • Brutal-8-E (Turqoise Edition) (1992) Cass, Single, Ltd Network Records
  • E-Vapor 8 (1992) 12, Promo Rough Trade Germany
  • E-Vapor 8 (1992) 12" Network Records
  • E-Vapor 8 (1992) 7" Network Records
  • E-Vapor 8 (1992) CD, Maxi Network Records
  • E-Vapor 8 (1992) Cass, Single Network Records
  • E-Vapor 8 (Special DJ Edition) (1992) 12" Network Records
  • Full On..Mask Hysteria (1992) CD Rough Trade Germany[1]

[edit] External links