Radar: A Certain Ratio

I recently spoke with Jez Kerr and Martin Moscrop of A Certain Ratio. Jez and Martin talked about the new recordings, becoming A Certain Ratio and the early Hacienda days along with Joy Division plus future plans. And while they came up through Factory Records alongside all the classic acts that emerged in the late 70’s they built a sound out of funk bass, Afrobeat drums, brass, dub, and Latin percussion along with the angular edges of post-punk.

This year marks two anniversaries: 45 years since they recorded Sextet, their 1982 third album that hit number one on the UK Independent Chart, and 40 years since Force, their 1986 fifth album and last for Factory.

They're celebrating the anniversary with two companion releases, both just out via Mute. The Joy of Sextet is a new mix by Andy Meecham (The Emperor Machine), pulled from the original 1981 two-inch multitracks. Force Majeure is a nine-track set built around four-track recordings made by the late Stuart James, including an unreleased version of the title track. In October they tour the UK playing both albums in full

You can find ACR across all social and at www.acrmcr.com. Follow along for tour dates and all ACR happenings. 

ICYDNK: Dylan Hundley is an artist and performer. She is the lead singer and co-creator of Lulu Lewis, and the creator of all things at Darling Black, one woman brutalist synthpop. She curates and hosts Salon Lulu, a New York-based multidisciplinary performance series, and is also a cast member of the cult-classic New York film Metropolitan.