A CERTAIN RATIO

A Certain Ratio (aka ACR or A.C.R.) are a post-punk/funk band from Manchester, UK. Formed in the late 1970s, they were one of the bands (along with Gang of Four and The Pop Group) who forged the new musical hybrid which became known as punk-funk, a style which fused the energy and aggression of punk rock with the rhythms and musicianship of funk and soul. The band’s members were originally Simon Topping, Jeremy Kerr, Martin Moscrop, Donald Johnson and Pete Terrell. In live performance, the band often had a flexible line-up, with various members swapping instruments, and also performing ensemble latin percussion music.

In 1979, ACR released their debut single “All Night Party”/”The Thin Boys” on the late tony wilson’s and the late rob gretton’s factory records, Manchester’s legendary DIY collective/record label.
ACR’s early sound consisted of repetitious, effects-heavy guitar lines over a funky rhythm section with Latin percussion and ethereal electronics, over which lay Simon Topping’s dark, moody vocals. Examples of this can be heard on tracks such as ‘Do the Du’, ‘The Fox’ and ‘Winter Hill’.

The band were initially criticised as being ‘style over substance’, as much attention was paid to the band’s stage clothing and album artwork, all carefully orchestrated by Factory boss Tony Wilson. But ACR nevertheless gained a large following. They completed visits to the US, where their music was popular particularly in the clubs of New York.
Early albums include “To Each…” and the studio/live album “The Graveyard and the Ballroom”.

[biography from last.fm, click here to read the full biography on last.fm]

12/2009

PHOTOSHOOT

A Factory Night, Plan K Brussels, Belgium

[marquis(pi)X]