Its that time againphones: and this time we're bigger than ever. As this one falls only a few days after my :| 30th birthday we thought it only right to celebrate in style and we're very honoured that the man like MARK ARCHER (ALTERN8) will be headlining our next event Obviously to you lot, Altern8 are a household name, but just incase i've blatantly stolen a paragraph or two from good ol' wikipedia
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.
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.
As per... there will be myself, Canoodle, and Say of the Say spinning some choonage, but because this is a birthday doo, we'll be playing plenty of our favourite classics from the late 80s / early 90s.. as always, nothing too cheesy or overplayed ministry of sound compilation-esque but plenty of well known classics from all styles and genres we only play good tunes
The venue is as usual, The Scubar http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/48/486/Scubar/Manchester
136 York Street
Manchester
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en...TF-8&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&resnum=1&ct=image
Starts at 9pm till 3am with the usual cheap beer and only a 5er on the door Doors close at 11.30pm so make sure you're down nice and early.. and if you are... make use of the drinks offers at the upstairs main bar. allsorts of BOGOF offers and cocktail bowls and every shiz you can think of (nearly) before 9pm
Casual Dress code - jeans & trainers are ok etc no caps or football shirts as the doormen probably wont let you in.
We hope you can join us all and help me celebrate my birthday