When Altern-8 put on their masks and their weird chemist uniforms for a performance, everything seemed to be out of control. Their kind of music really seemed to be a melting pot where you couldn't define exactly the different styles frontiers. After all, it was all lumped into hardcore. So many influences made up the English movement, and later even other ones, such as Jungle and Drum and Bass, were then influenced by it.
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 aka Techno City, and they recorded the "Let it Reign" tune together with Inner City: that's when Mark explained the basic ingredients of hardcore to Kevin, resulting in what he did later, like Tronikhouse's "Uptempo".
Altern-8 started in 1989 as Nexus 21, because they just liked it. It sounded 'technoey', and they were both 21 at that time. According to Archer, it was already a proto-hardcore project. Nothing to do with the unborn bleep techno. They definitely were aiming for something more dancefloor, more breakbeat. Anyway, the "Rhythm Of Life"'s sales did not go well, and they decided to change. So, they choose the best option in 1990: 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, the Altern-8 tunes changed the world of dance music, bringing these influences to all over the place, in a mixture of 303, 808 and 909. This was, in fact, "the sound of the Altern-8!".
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", the duo split up. Mark Archer is still DJing now, doing live shows all over the world.
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.
Activ 8
Altern 8 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dead Can Dance
A Passage In Time (Dead Can Dance) (8)
These silent chances
pass one by
B:[pass not by!]
D:[pass wrong by]
whomever you are,
Resign[ed] to the
D:[^agree]
hands of fate,
we'll? unending
B:["we'll wait here? ing,"]
E:[We'll WAIT unending]
D:[agree with E:]
beck and call
B:["beckon call"?]
Til' we return
paradise in turn
spread your golden wings
let the sails unfurl!
Til we return
paradise in turn
spread your golden wings
let the fires burn!
these silent chances
pass one by
B:["pass them by"]
D:[pass wrong by]
whomever you are
none(?) at all
resign[ed] to the
hands of fate
we'll? unending
B:["we'll await the ending"?]
E:[We'll WAIT unending]
beck and call
Til' we return
paradise in turn
spread your golden wings
let the sails unfurl!
'Til we return
paradise in turn
spread your golden wings
let the sails unfurl
no, opportunity's doors
did not open wide
the answers remain
locked away inside
locked away inside
locked away inside
locked away inside!
So? B:[for] our labour we till the earth!
Y:[SO (sounds like fast chained) our labour we till the earth!]
to sow the seeds of our own rebirth!
as the days turned into years
our faith overcame any doubts or fears
any doubts or fears
are there any doubts or fears
any doubts or fears
are there any doubts or fears?
the truth be had from the?
Y:[The truth be had from the TREE(?)]
for a? on a? mystery
Y:[For a TRAVEL(?) (xxx) on a LOVER'S/MOTHER'S (?) mystery]
D:[for a crop rotation?]
this mystery
this mystery
this mystery
this mystery
The lyrics of Activ-8 by Altern 8 tell a story about quiet and missed opportunities. The opening lines, "Dead Can Dance / Dead Can Dance / A Passage In Time / These silent chances pass one by" set the mood for the song. The repetition of "pass one by" emphasizes the idea of missed chances that one cannot regain. The singer doesn't address anyone in particular, indicating that this is a universal feeling that everyone experiences at some point – no matter who you are, you cannot take back the opportunities you missed. The singer resigns themselves to the "hands of fate," something beyond their control.
The chorus begins with "Til' we return paradise in turn," which suggests that the singer is waiting for something to happen or waiting for an opportunity to return. They ask whoever is listening to "spread your golden wings," which would suggest that the listener can take flight and achieve anything they desire. The repeated line of "let the sails unfurl" evokes the image of a boat setting sail, again implying that a journey is about to begin.
The final verse takes a more philosophical turn. The line "no opportunity's doors did not open wide" could be interpreted as either a pessimistic or optimistic view. It could mean that the singer has missed every opportunity, or it could mean that they just haven't yet found the right one. The line "the answers remain locked away inside" suggests that there is some kind of epiphany waiting to be discovered, but it hasn't been unlocked yet. The final lines of the chorus repeat with a sense of urgency, as if encouraging the listener to take flight and not miss any more chances.
Line by Line Meaning
Dead Can Dance
Band name
Dead Can Dance
Repetition of band name
A Passage In Time (Dead Can Dance) (8)
Album and track information
These silent chances
Opportunities that are not spoken or visible
pass one by
Opportunities are missed, passed over or ignored
B:[pass not by!]
Don't let opportunities pass you by
D:[pass wrong by]
Opportunities are being missed or overlooked incorrectly
whomever you are,
Regardless of who you are or your status
none at all.
No opportunities are being recognized or acted upon
Resign[ed] to the
Submitting to or accepting
D:[^agree]
Disagreeing with the previous line
hands of fate,
The forces that affect our lives
we'll? unending
We will continue regardless of the outcome
B:["we'll wait here? ing,"]
We will wait, no matter how long it takes
E:[We'll WAIT unending]
Restating that the waiting is unending
D:[agree with E:]
Agreeing with the previous line
beck and call
Available as needed
B:["beckon call"?]
Rephrasing the previous line as 'beckon call'
Til' we return
Until we come back
paradise in turn
The desired outcome will occur eventually
spread your golden wings
Achieving success and freedom
let the sails unfurl!
Taking action and letting things progress
'Til we return
Repeating that something will happen
paradise in turn
Repeating the desired outcome
let the fires burn!
Adding further encouragement to take action
no, opportunity's doors
The availability of opportunities
did not open wide
Opportunities are not being presented in an apparent or easy-to-access way
the answers remain
Solutions or explanations are still inaccessible or unclear
locked away inside
Answers are hidden or difficult to access
locked away inside!
Reemphasizing the presence of locked-away answers
So? B:[for] our labour we till the earth!
Working hard on our own problems
Y:[SO (sounds like fast chained) our labour we till the earth!]
Reiteration of the previous line
to sow the seeds of our own rebirth!
Repeating the goal of rejuvenation and new beginnings
as the days turned into years
The passage of time
our faith overcame any doubts or fears
The ability to persevere and believe in oneself
any doubts or fears
Anything uncertain or that brings anxiety
are there any doubts or fears
Questioning whether or not there is uncertainty or anxiety
any doubts or fears
Repeating the questioning of uncertainty
are there any doubts or fears?
Another repetition of the question
the truth be had from the?
Where to find truth or answers
Y:[The truth be had from the TREE(?)
Possible location for truth or answers
for a? on a? mystery
Unsolved problem or question
Y:[For a TRAVEL(?) (xxx) on a LOVER'S/MOTHER'S (?) mystery]
Speculating on the type of mystery
D:[for a crop rotation?]
Another possibility for the mystery
this mystery
Repeating the presence of a mystery
this mystery
Repeating the presence of a mystery
this mystery
Repeating the presence of a mystery
this mystery
Repeating the presence of a mystery
Contributed by Jacob R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@krisbeaumont3693
No phones, no weapons and no fighting, all creeds and colours and all love, Off our nuts for the music. Miss those Times ❤️
@zipz8423
Yes pal it was mental and everybody was just loved up off their tits. Cant beat those days.
@Alexa2z
Idk I just see a bunch of white folks
@krisbeaumont3693
@@Alexa2z Yes that one video, encapsulated the entire dance music movement of the late 80s and 90s. Where it was just a bunch of "white folks".
@zipz8423
@@Alexa2z I was there thats not what it was like mate.
@MissB-mk9tj
@Alexa2z - these were the raves I went to https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=648UkmmTG5w
@mikewraight1032
Born in the 70s
Schooled in the 80s
Smashed in the 90s
Our generation can never be topped 🤓😉
@black76561
Mike Wraight boom 💥
@sonnyblack5253
We had it all!!
@wythenshawekid1597
Micro dots