A Certain Ratio

All Music Guide:

Though formed in Manchester's late-'70s punk scene, A Certain Ratio used an increasing amount of electronics throughout the '80s to become more of a dancefloor-oriented band, much like Factory labelmates New Order. The group (whose name is a pointer to a Brian Eno song) was formed in 1977 by vocalists Simon Topping and Martha Tilson, bassist Jeremy Kerr, guitarist Peter Terrell, and guitarist/trumpeter Martin Moscrop -- drummer Donald Johnson later joined as the drummer. New Order manager Rob Gretton was impressed by early live shows, and spread the word to Tony Wilson, who signed A Certain Ratio to his fledgling Factory label and became their first manager. In 1979, ACR released the drummerless "All Night Party"/"The Thin Boys," their debut single, and recorded the studio and live sides that were released the following January as The Graveyard and the Ballroom.

The punk and industrial grind of ACR's early live shows soon became more danceable and funk-inspired -- second single "Shack Up," a Banbarra cover, even reached the American R&B Top 50. The proper debut album, To Each..., appeared in 1981 and was produced by the band and Martin Hannett. The following two albums, Sextet and I'd Like to See You Again (both 1982), expanded A Certain Ratio's sound further, encompassing Latin and jazz elements. But Tilson left the band in 1982, and Topping opted out a year later, leaving vocal duties to Kerr and Johnson. Also, Andy Connell joined the group as keyboardist, replacing Peter Terrell, yet he left within three years to form Swing Out Sister.

Frustrated with its lack of commercial success, the group recorded just one more album for Factory, 1986's Force, though the company released a singles compilation (The Old and the New) around the same time. The next year brought Live in America (on the independent label Dojo) and a major-label contract with A&M, where they fared no better; the full-length Good Together was released in 1989, while ACR:MCR followed one year later, and neither release left much of a commercial impression. The band moved to old friend Rob Gretton's label, Robs Records, which issued Up in Downsville in 1992. Creation Records later acquired the rights to ACR's back catalog and released a remix album, 1994's Looking for A Certain Ratio, with help from Manchester alums Graham Massey, Electronic, the Other Two, and Sub Sub, among others.

After a five-year hiatus, A Certain Ratio returned in 1996 with Change the Station. Although the band did not release another studio album for over a decade, much of its discography was reissued throughout the early 2000s on the Soul Jazz and LTM labels. Mind Made Up, technically the band's ninth studio release (counting The Graveyard and the Ballroom), was released in 2008 on the French label Le Maquis. As funky as any of their prior releases, it featured the vocals of longtime collaborator Denise Johnson on three songs. The band took a similarly funk-infused approach -- again featuring Johnson on some tracks -- with 2010's Mind Made Up.

Wikipedia:

A Certain Ratio are a post-punk band formed in 1977 in Manchester, England. While originally part of the punk rock movement, they soon added funk and dance elements to their sound. They are sometimes referred to as "post punk funk". The band's name is taken from the lyrics of Brian Eno's song "The True Wheel" from the album Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy).

History[edit]

The group's longest serving original members are Martin Moscrop (born 24 September 1960) (guitar, trumpet) and Jez Kerr (bass, vocals). Another current member, Donald Johnson (drums, vocals, bass), joined after the first drummerless single. Two of their original members have left the band: Simon Topping (left in 1983 for Quando Quango and later joined T-Coy), plus guitarist Peter Terrell, who left in 1982. Keyboardist Andy Connell, who joined in 1982, left to form Swing Out Sister in 1985.

A Certain Ratio's first recording contract was with Factory Records in 1979. They released The Graveyard and The Ballroom only on cassette in 1980. This led them to put out another experimental album; To Each..., released in 1981, was the band's official debut album. With growing popularity and success, the band signed with A&M Records in 1987, and Good Together was released in 1989. The album failed to produce a hit, leading to the band's departure from the label. In the early 1990s, they signed with Rob's Records, owned by New Order manager Rob Gretton.

In 1990 Creation Records reissued the albums on CD and in 2002 Soul Jazz Records reissued the albums with bonus tracks (but using the same masters as the Creation editions.) Further re-issues and a live recording from 1980 have also been made available on the LTM label.

Although the band does not play full time, they continue writing, recording, and performing. A Certain Ratio performed in the U.S. for the first time since 1985 on 16 November 2008, headlining the Part Time Punks Festival at The Echo in Los Angeles, California.

A Certain Ratio were managed by Tony Wilson. They are featured in the film 24 Hour Party People where Tony Wilson (played by Steve Coogan) describes them as "having all the energy of Joy Division but better clothes." Martin Moscrop was Musical Supervisor of 24 Hour Party People.Cite error: There are <ref> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist}} template (see the help page).

Live return and resurgence[edit]

The band announced their live return with a headline performance at London's Offset Festival, in September 2009, playing alongside fellow post-punk artists The Slits, following a one-off live performance commemorating Factory Records in Dublin, in March 2009.

They performed at the Plan K, Molenbeek in West Brussels on 12 December 2009 as part of the event, 'A Factory Night (And Then Again)'. This event also featured Section 25, The Wake, The Names and Biting Tongues.

Towards the end of 2009, the band announced a live appearance at a fund-raising event at Brighton's Concorde 2 venue on March 7, 2010. Their 2008 album, "Mind Made Up" was re-issued via LTM Recordings during 2010, along with a redux version of the 1986 set, 'Force'.

In May 2011, they performed on The Satellite Stage at Friends Of Mine Festival at Capesthorne Hall near Macclesfield, and were introduced by their friend Terry Christian.Cite error: There are <ref> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist}} template (see the help page).