"...ACR
made some of the most seminal yet underrated post-punk, avant-pop, and
tweaked funk of an era filled with hybrid explorations…one of the most
vital bands of their time." – PITCHFORK
A CERTAIN RATIO have shared their first new music since 2008’s
Mind Made Up and have announced the release of
acr:set, a career-spanning compilation released on colored double vinyl, CD and digital formats on
October 12. Each format will feature its own version of album cover art.
“
Dirty Boy” is a classic slice of A Certain Ratio pop-funk and features the voice of Factory Records co-founder
Tony Wilson preparing the band for “The Fox” recording session in his own inimitable fashion, plus vocals from
Barry Adamson, who returns a favor to the band after they reworked 2017’s
“I Got Clothes." Listen to “Dirty Boy”
here.
Two new tracks – the aforementioned “Dirty Boy” and “Make It Happen” –
were recorded at Oxygene in Manchester and appear on the new best of
compilation,
acr:set. The album is made up of tracks that
feature in the band’s incendiary live show (hence the title), and
includes rare 7” and 12” mixes alongside sleeve notes by DJ and writer
Dave Haslam. Preorder
acr:set here.
A Certain Ratio, known for their carnival atmosphere live performances
have been playing blistering shows throughout 2017 and 2018. Recent sold
out dates have included London and Brighton (with Sink Ya Teeth, who
recently released their debut album) and Hebden Bridge (with Andrew
Weatherall). Forthcoming dates have been announced, and will be followed
by 40th anniversary shows next year. See below for an updated
itinerary.
A CERTAIN RATIO UK TOUR
September 7 – Portmeirion, Wales – Festival No 6
September 8 – Birmingham, England – Shiiine Festival
September 15 – Dublin, Ireland – The Sugar Club
September 22 – Helsinki, Finland – Aaniwalli
September 29 – Edinburgh, Scotland – Voodoo Rooms
November 24 – Manchester, England – Gorilla w/ Sink Ya Teeth
December 1 – Clitheroe, England – The Grand
A Certain Ratio are supporters of Artists Against Hunger and will
donate £1 for each ticket sold in 2018. For further details, please go
to http://againsthunger.uk/acr
ACR live is Jez Kerr, Donald Johnson, Martin Moscrop, Denise Johnson,
Tony Quigley and recent addition on keyboards, Matt Steele, who has
adapted to the ACR groove seamlessly.
A Certain Ratio embraced the ethic and culture of the late seventies
post-punk explosion, but sounded like nothing else around them and
refused to fit in. Formed in Manchester in 1978, the band has had
various members throughout their career, with a core line-up of Jez
Kerr, Martin Moscrop and Donald Johnson that remains today.
An influence on generations of musicians – from LCD Soundsystem, Happy
Mondays, Franz Ferdinand, ESG, Factory Floor, Sink Ya Teeth and Andrew
Weatherall – the band’s involvement in cultural touchpoints is sometimes
unexpected: a recent exhibition at Stockport’s Strawberry Studios
uncovered the tape box, but not the tapes, from a recording session with
Grace Jones back in 1980 and Madonna’s live debut was supporting A
Certain Ratio at the famous Danceteria in New York in 1982.
The band released their first single – which was produced by Martin
Hannett – for the legendary Factory Records in 1979 and went on to be
hailed universally as pioneers of what became known as “punk funk”
thanks to the success of their second single, “Shack Up,” on both sides
of the Atlantic.
Five albums were released on Factory –
The Graveyard and the Ballroom (1979)
, To Each…(1981)
, Sextet (1982)
, I’d Like To See You Again (1982)
and Force (1986)
. Following the release of
Force, the band moved to A&M for two releases –
Good Together (1989) and
acr:mcr (1990). After the leaving the major, the group released
Up In Downsville (1992) and
Change the Station (1997)
on Rob’s Records, the label set up by New Order’s manager and Factory’s
director, Rob Gretton, an important catalyst in the Manchester scene.
Back sharing a label with Factory label-mates New Order, A Certain Ratio's collaboration with Mute has seen their
full studio album catalogue
made available again ahead of this introductory style compilation,
tying up loose ends of the band’s history before next year’s 40th
anniversary, when a new box set of rare and unreleased material will see
the light of day.
Their sound is not easily pigeon holed and their influence can never be
understated. The band introduced the avant-garde elements of funk, jazz,
electronics, tape loops and technology to the pop song, wrapping it in a
post punk aesthetic.
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