A Certain Ratio

A Certain Ratio, also known as ACR or A.C.R., is an English post-punk band from Wythenshawe, near Manchester, active from 1977 to the present. The group is associated with post-punk, new wave, alternative dance, dance-punk, dance-rock, funk and funk rock, and is recognised as one of the early exponents of punk-funk, a style that combines punk’s energy with funk and soul rhythms.

Formation and early years

The band forms in the late 1970s with Simon Topping, Jeremy Kerr, Martin Moscrop, Donald Johnson and Pete Terrell. Their first single, “All Night Party”/“The Thin Boys”, appears in 1979 on Factory Records, the Manchester label and DIY collective associated with Tony Wilson and Rob Gretton. Early recordings such as “Do The Du”, “The Fox” and “Winter Hill” feature repetitive, effects-heavy guitar lines, a funk-driven rhythm section, Latin percussion and atmospheric electronics, with Topping on moody vocals.

The band’s image and artwork attract as much attention as the music, and they are initially criticised as being style-led, although they build a large following. They also play in the United States, where their music gains particular support in New York clubs.

Albums, line-up changes and later work

Early albums include To Each... and the studio/live release The Graveyard And The Ballroom. In the early 1980s, Pete Terrell and Simon Topping leave, with Topping later studying percussion in New York. Jeremy Kerr takes over lead vocals and keyboardist Andy Connell joins the band.

During this period, the band’s sound becomes more jazz- and Latin-influenced on Sextet, which includes vocals from Martha Tilson of Occult Chemistry, and on I’d Like To See You Again, which includes fewer songs and more instrumental material than earlier releases. Factory issues the compilation The Old & The New in 1985, which includes the single “Wild Party”. The band also releases a 12-inch version of Stevie Wonder’s “Don’t Worry ’Bout A Thing” with Donald Johnson on vocals.

Force follows in 1986 as a more commercial record, with jazz-tinged pop songs, contributions from Corinne Drewery of Swing Out Sister and saxophone from Anthony Quigley, who has recently joined the group. A Certain Ratio then leaves Factory Records for A&M. In 1990, Good Together appears, featuring Bernard Sumner of New Order and Electronic and Shaun Ryder of Happy Mondays. It extends the pop direction of Force and brings in acid house electronics. The mini-album MCR follows with new tracks and remixes, and is described as a return to the group’s harder-edged, dance-oriented roots.

The band later records for Rob Gretton’s Rob’s Records, based in Manchester, and continues to record and perform, maintaining a loyal audience. Loco appears on Mute in 2020, after the group’s 40th anniversary tour, and is their first album in 12 years.

Collaborators, influence and related projects

Denise Johnson joins the band in the studio and on the road around the time of Good Together. She is a backing vocalist who also sings with many other Manchester acts, including Electronic. The group’s early music influences later artists including Franz Ferdinand, Radio 4, LCD Soundsystem and Interpol.

Members also work in other projects connected to the Factory scene. Simon Topping contributes vocals and percussion to Quando Quango’s PigsandBattleships and later forms the latin/techno dance act T-Coy. Donald Johnson drums with Electronic in live performance and works with his brother Derek’s soul group 52nd Street. Martin Moscrop and Anthony Quigley play in The Swamp Children and Kalima. Corinne Drewery and Andy Connell later form Swing Out Sister. Moscrop also serves as musical supervisor on Michael Winterbottom’s 24 Hour Party People.

Catalogue and labels

The band’s back catalogue is reissued by Creation Records, Soul Jazz Records and LTM Records. Their work across Factory, A&M, Rob’s Records and Mute charts a shift from post-punk and punk-funk into jazz-influenced, house-based and dance-oriented forms.