A Certain Ratio

Formed in 1977 in Flixton, Greater Manchester, A Certain Ratio first emerged in the wake of the British post-punk scene before early on incorporating funk, disco, dub, jazz and Latin percussion. Around a stable core led by Jez Kerr, Martin Moscrop and Donald Johnson, A Certain Ratio crafted a taut, danceable sound built on dry bass lines, precise drumming, brass and a marked taste for repetitive rhythms. The band was among the first acts associated with Factory Records and released the single “All Night Party” in 1979, produced by Martin Hannett, followed by The Graveyard and the Ballroom (1980), To Each... (1981) and Sextet (1982), where their writing became more open to funk textures and New York influences. Their appearance on Talking Heads’ UK tour at the end of 1979 also positioned them within a scene being reshaped between rock, dance and experimentation. After I’d Like to See You Again (1982), Force (1986), Good Together (1989), acr:mcr (1990), Up in Downsville (1992) and Change the Station (1997), A Certain Ratio remained active in phases, returned with Mind Made Up in 2008, and revived their discography with ACR Loco in 2020, 1982 in 2023 and It All Comes Down to This in 2024.