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.
E-Vapor 8
Altern 8 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Miscellaneous
Proudest Monkey (in album Live At Red Rocks 8/15/95)
Well, I used to live in a tree
I loved it there, but that was not enough for me
So I paved a road to the city
And left the rest of the monkeys
I am the Proudest Monkey that I know
Monkey see, monkey do
Monkey see, monkey do
When I walk, I walk so tall...
Not bent or doubled up
Like the other monkeys that I know...
Still I don't know if I have a soul
Or if Heaven's the place to go...
Or if Hell's where we burn...
Or if sinning's what we do...
Where do I know that I'm the smartest monkey...
That I know
Monkey see, monkey do,
Monkey see...
We are the proudest monkeys...
We are the proudest monkeys...
You and me are the proudest monkeys...
You and I are the proudest monkeys...
Monkey see, monkey do...
Monkey see, monkey do... (repeat as necessary)
The song "E-Vapor-8" by Altern 8 is a fast-paced, high-energy dance track. Some of the lyrics touch on the theme of escape or release, which ties in with the title of the track. The opening lines "step into the sound" and "set your mind free" suggest that the music is a way to let go of stress and worries.
One interpretation of the chorus "e-vapor-8, e-vapor-8, e-vapor-8, e-vapor-8" is that it represents the feeling of becoming immaterial or transcending the physical world through dance and music. The use of the word "vapor" suggests something insubstantial or elusive, and the repetition of the phrase reinforces the idea of a transformative experience.
Overall, the lyrics and the music work together to create a sense of ecstatic release and freedom. The rapid beats and driving rhythm, combined with the evocative language, invite the listener to let go of their cares and surrender to the power and joy of the music.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I used to live in a tree
I used to live a simple life and was content with it
I loved it there, but that was not enough for me
Although I enjoyed my simple life, I felt that it was limiting me
So I paved a road to the city
I sought new experiences and left my simple life behind
And left the rest of the monkeys
I moved on from my old ways and left behind those who were content with it
So when I leave the
When I depart from my old ways
I am the Proudest Monkey that I know
I am proud of the person I have become and the life I have built for myself
Monkey see, monkey do
People tend to imitate the behavior of others without understanding it
When I walk, I walk so tall...
I walk confidently and with purpose
Not bent or doubled up
I am not weighed down by the troubles of life
Like the other monkeys that I know...
Unlike others who are content with a simple life
Still I don't know if I have a soul
Despite my successes, I still question the ultimate purpose of my existence
Or if Heaven's the place to go...
I wonder if there is an afterlife and if there is a reward for living a good life
Or if Hell's where we burn...
I wonder if there is a punishment for living a sinful life
Or if sinning's what we do...
I question the nature of good and evil and if we are predisposed to one or the other
Where do I know that I'm the smartest monkey...
I question my place in the world and if I am truly superior to others
That I know
That I have encountered
We are the proudest monkeys...
We are all proud of the person we have become and the lives we have built for ourselves
You and me are the proudest monkeys...
You and I in particular are proud of the person we have become and the life we have built for ourselves
You and I are the proudest monkeys...
You and I in particular are proud of the person we have become and the life we have built for ourselves
Monkey see, monkey do...
People tend to imitate the behavior of others without understanding it
Monkey see, monkey do... (repeat as necessary)
This tendency is repeated over and over again
Writer(s): Chris Peat, Michael James, Mark Archer, Derrick May
Contributed by Declan C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Tristan Cook
Old skool raving at its crazy best. Still sounds better than anything else out there today, don't make them like this anymore unfortunately. Classic
raaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaAaaAAaaaaa
There's a reason why. Dem samples be well dated
ROBERT TONUS
@raaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaAaaAAaaaaa like your mum
Ricky Grattage
they just don't make em like this anymore, n it still sends shivers down my spine, without a double dove
Dave Jackson
I actually wonder sometimes if there's still some in my system because of the way my scalp still tingles when I hear this?
Lava Lady
This was and always will be a banger
radion oakmont
bonza right on that on m8
riversedge64
The masked duo preventing coronavirus since 30 years.
Ricardo Moreno
Corona virus dancing the song
Vision
riversedge64 They predicted it before the Simpsons