Altern-8

Altern-8

Altern-8 is the name for the breakbeat hardcore duo of Mark Archer and Chris Peat. They were one of the UK Rave bands of the late eighties/early nineties, whose trademarks were loud electronic tracks with a heavy bass line, and the facemasks and chemical warfare suits worn by the two band members. The duo were also involved with Network Records based in Stratford House, Birmingham, England.

At the time in the UK, outdoor Rave events were legal, and Altern-8 had a reputation for turning up at major unofficial events and sharing their music. In their time, they helped to define trends in hardcore techno style with several anthems and music that became faster, relied more heavily on bass and was played very loud. During this period, hardcore techno was speeding up. With much more bass and eclectic noises, it became a whole world apart from the style of house music that preceded it.

Full On... Mask Hysteria by Altern-8

Altern8's somewhat surreal image made for dramatic photographs and videos, but that same press that helped to sell their music came to be 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 to campaign for something to be done about the whole movement.

The description of music in the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, the law banning unofficial outdoor Rave events, "music" includes sounds wholly or predominantly characterised by the emission of a succession of repetitive beats., provides a good summary of the Altern-8 trademark sound.

Even though the Detroit Techno pioneer Kevin Saunderson was considered a reference to all rave style with a track named "Truth of Self Evidence" (as Reese & Santonio), he had never made hardcore, and one day he met the Altern-8 duo at Stafford's Techno City, and they recorded the "Let it Reign" tune together with Inner City. At this time Mark explained the basic ingredients of hardcore to Kevin, the result of which was the Saunderson-produced track, Tronikhouse's "Uptempo".

Altern-8 started in 1989 as Nexus 21, because they just liked the name, it sounded 'technoey', and they were both 21 at that time. According to Archer, it was already a proto-hardcore project and nothing to do with the as-yet-unborn bleep techno. They were keen to develop something more dancefloor, more breakbeat-orientated. "Rhythm Of Life"'s sales did not go well, however, and they decided to change their musical direction and name. So, they choose the best option: to Altern 8.

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 a mixture of the sounds of the Roland TB-303, 808 and 909. This was, in fact, "the sound of the Altern-8!".

Two more names deserve a mention in the story of the development of Altern8: Neil Rushton, the manager and captain of the Network Records, from Stafford; and John McCready, the man responsible for the propagation of their many myths. The duo, dressed in chemical warfare suits and dancing "like electrified monkeys", appeared in an incredible number of live performances during the beginning of the 1990s. They produced massive hardcore hits, such as "Frequency", "Activ-8", "Brutal-8-E", "Armageddon" and "Move my body", among others, using proven sampling techniques, distinctive synth lines and breakbeats. Their sounds were meant to be danced to, noisy and fast.

Notable Altern-8 tracks include "Activ8", "E-vapor-8", "Frequency", "Hypnotic St-8" and "Infiltrate 202". The duo produced an album on the Network Records Label in 1992 called Full On... Mask Hysteria. After their single "Everybody". They later regrouped for a comeback tour.

In 1992 Peat entered as a candidate for the Stafford Constituency in the General Election as a candidate for the Hardcore (Altern8-ive) party. He polled 158 votes and finished in fourth place.

In 1993, as music trends evolved, Mark Archer got decided to produce as Slo Moshun with Danny Taurus, responsible for "Bells of N.Y.", and Xen Mantra, his solo project.

On the comeback tour they were rumoured to have played a midnight rave set in the middle of a country farm. Altern8 have just started a residency at Poke parties, which are held at Jack's club, on Crucifix Lane.

The artwork of their 1992 Album conains a particularly poignant quote from Andrew Harrison of Select Magazine on the band:

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 Altern8

External links

• Mask Hysteria - discography, future events, forums & group contact.
• Discogs: Altern 8