A Certain Ratio Down, Down, Down

Factory Benelux presents a remastered CD edition of Sextet, the second studio album by Manchester postpunk funk group A Certain Ratio, originally released by Factory Records in January 1982. Self-produced at Revolution Studio, Sextet saw the original Ratio quintet of Donald Johnson, Jeremy Kerr, Martin Moscrop, Simon Topping and Peter Terrell joined by co-vocalist Martha 'Tili' Tilson. Written and recorded following a transformative sojourn in New York at the end of 1980, the album reflects Latin, samba and even jazz influences (eg Skipscada; Day One), while still retaining Ratio's signature brittle funk textures, heard in full effect on Lucinda, Gum and trancelike floor filler Knife Slits Water.

A Certain Ratio continue an incredible run of releases and touring, one that has marked a dynamic new phase in their career, with details of LOCO REMEZCLADA: a collection of entirely new mixes and reworkings of tracks from across their recent catalogue.

It All Comes Down to This, for now at least, is the sound of the current incarnation of A Certain Ratio. Indeed, in many senses, it is the purest distillation of their essential sound ever committed to tape. Their thirteenth studio album, it is the first time ever they have recorded strictly as the core trio of principle band members – multi-instrumentalists Jez Kerr, Martin Moscrop and Donald Johnson. From the moment the rattling, call-to-arms drumroll intro of opener ‘All Comes Down to This’ gives in to a wall of slithering, watery guitar squawks and bounding, rubbery bass notes, it is obvious that A Certain Ratio have once again been able to tap into a new artery of life. The record’s ten tracks present ten distinct moods, from the urgent, muscular, foreboding groove of ‘Keep It Real’ to the open, breezy, melodic synth of ‘God Knows’, every bursting moment of It All Comes Down to This is defiantly, resiliently alive.

It All Comes Down to This is the brand new album from Manchester legends A Certain Ratio, produced by Speedy Wunderground’s Dan Carey. This album takes A Certain Ratio back to their roots, featuring 10 straight-to-the-point tracks, with a sprinkling of electronics for good measure. It is the first time the band has recorded as the core 3-piece lineup of Jez Kerr, Martin Moscrop, and Donald Johnson, with no additional collaborators or members of the live setup. Following on from ACR's acclaimed 1982 album and the electrifying 2023 EP, It All Comes Down to This continues the lineage of constant progression demonstrated by the band.

This four-track release features ACR’s first-ever Christmas track, ‘Now and Laughter’ (“ACR does Christmas!” the band exclaims, “who’d have thunk it? We are big Slade fans though…”). Alongside this festive debut are three remixes from their acclaimed album It All Comes Down To This. To celebrate the season, Kerr, Moscrop, and Johnson have invited some extended ACR family to contribute: Jane Weaver, their labelmate from Rob Gretton’s much-missed label in the ‘90s, remixes ‘Where You Coming From’, while long-time friend and collaborator Emperor Machine (aka Andy Meecham) delivers an extended remix of ‘Out From Under’. Adding a fresh twist, some newer friends have been invited into the fold, with London-based Jezebell bringing the Electro-Balearic party vibe to ‘We All Need’"

This four-track release features ACR’s first-ever Christmas track, ‘Now and Laughter’ (“ACR does Christmas!” the band exclaims, “who’d have thunk it? We are big Slade fans though…”). Alongside this festive debut are three remixes from their acclaimed album It All Comes Down To This. To celebrate the season, Kerr, Moscrop, and Johnson have invited some extended ACR family to contribute: Jane Weaver, their labelmate from Rob Gretton’s much-missed label in the ‘90s, remixes ‘Where You Coming From’, while long-time friend and collaborator Emperor Machine (aka Andy Meecham) delivers an extended remix of ‘Out From Under’. Adding a fresh twist, some newer friends have been invited into the fold, with London-based Jezebell bringing the Electro-Balearic party vibe to ‘We All Need’"

This four-track release features ACR’s first-ever Christmas track, ‘Now and Laughter’ (“ACR does Christmas!” the band exclaims, “who’d have thunk it? We are big Slade fans though…”). Alongside this festive debut are three remixes from their acclaimed album It All Comes Down To This. To celebrate the season, Kerr, Moscrop, and Johnson have invited some extended ACR family to contribute: Jane Weaver, their labelmate from Rob Gretton’s much-missed label in the ‘90s, remixes ‘Where You Coming From’, while long-time friend and collaborator Emperor Machine (aka Andy Meecham) delivers an extended remix of ‘Out From Under’. Adding a fresh twist, some newer friends have been invited into the fold, with London-based Jezebell bringing the Electro-Balearic party vibe to ‘We All Need’"

From Buzzcocks to Britpop, Manchester North Of England is the ultimate tribute to the independent output of that most important and iconic of musical cities, with 146 tracks across seven CDs in a deluxe box set.

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