| A Certain Ratio |
| Background information |
| Origin |
 Manchester,
England |
| Genre(s) |
Alternative
rock
Alternative dance
House
music
Post-punk |
| Years active |
1977 - present |
| Label(s) |
Factory/A&M
-UK |
| Website |
http://www.acrmcr.com/ |
| Members |
Jeremy Kerr (lead vocals, bass
guitars)
Martin Moscrop (lead
guitars, trumpets)
Donald Johnson (1979-present, drums)
Tony Quigley
(1983-present, saxophones)Liam Mullan (1990-present, keyboards) |
| Former members |
Peter Terrell (1977-1982, guitars, electronics)
Simon
Topping (1977-1983,
vocals, trumpets, percussion)
Martha Tilson (1981-1982, vocals)
Andy Connell (1982-1986, keyboards) |
A Certain Ratio is 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. 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), which in turn were
taken from a quote from Hitler on the proportion of 'Jewish blood' that
was required to determine whether someone was to be classified as
'Jewish'. There is some dispute as to whether the band were aware of
the original meaning of the phrase.
The group's longest serving members have been Martin Moscrop (guitar, trumpet) and Jeremy Kerr (bass, vocals). Another of
today's members, Donald Johnson (drums, vocals),
joined early to replace a drum machine. Three original members
have left the band - singers Martha Tilson (left in 1982) and Simon
Topping (left in 1983
for Quando Quango and, later, 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.
The bands exploration of rhythm fusing funk, disco, punk and
Latin has had a resurgence in the last few years and their influence
can been heard in bands such as The Rapture and LCD
Soundsystem. In 2002 Soul Jazz Records started a program of reissues of
ACR's albums and difficult to find tracks. 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 new album is set for release in
early 2007.
'A Certain Ratio' started their career on Factory
Records, managed by Tony Wilson. They are featured in the
film 24 Hour Party People
where Tony Wilson (played by Steve Coogan) calls them 'Joy
Division but better dressed'. Martin Moscrop had the
prestigious job of Musical Supervisor of the film.
Discography
The band have released the following albums:
- FACT 16C The Graveyard and the Ballroom
(1980)
- FACT 35 To Each... (1981)
- FACT 55 Sextet (1982)
- FACT 65 I'd Like To See You Again (1982)
- FACT 166 Force (1986)
- Good Together (1989)
- acr:mcr (1990)
- Up In Downsville (1992)
- Change The Station (1997)
The band have released the following vinyl singles on Factory
Records:
- FAC 5 All Night Party / The Thin Boys 7"
- FAC 22 Flight / Blown Away / And Then Again
12"
- FACT 42 The Double 12" (12" 2 x 12", 7
tracks)
- FAC 52 Waterline / Funaezekea 12"
- FAC 62-7 Knife Slits Water / Tumba Rumba
7"
- FAC 62-12 Knife Slits Water / Kether Hot Knives
12"
- FAC 72-12 I Need Someone Tonight / Don't You
Worry 'Bout A Thing 12" (Also promo 7" FAC 72/7)
- FAC 112 Life's A Scream / There's Only This
12"
- FAC 112P Life's A Scream (Edit) / There's Only
This (Edit) 7"
- FAC 128 Wild Party / Sounds Like Something Dirty
12"
- FAC 168 Mickey Way (The Candy Bar) / Inside / Si
Firmi O Grido 12"
- FAC 1667 Bootsy / Inside 7" (Australian
only)
- FAC 16612 Bootsy (Remix) / Mickey Way
12" (Australian only)
The following compilations have also been released:
- A Certain Ratio Live in America (live
album, 1985)
- FACT 135 The Old and the New (singles
compilation, 1986)
- Looking for a Certain Ratio (remixes, 1994)
- Early (2002)
- Live In Groningen (2005)
Footnotes
External links
