- LP Record (Jun 17 2008)
- Number of Discs: 1
- Format: Import
- ASIN: B0019K2LHK
- Other Editions: Audio CD | LP Record
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
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Product Details
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Product Description
From Amazon.co.uk
In 1978, A Certain Ratio's idea of a new funk must have seemed like anathema to most British punks. Imagine: sublimating that righteous grumpiness, those defiant angles into a groove, of all things. But the first wave of post-punk bands, lead by ACR, proved this most unlikely of hybrids wasn't just possible, but utterly desirable. Early is compelling evidence of ACR's peculiar genius. Birthed in Manchester and signed to the nascent Factory label alongside Joy Division, they went on to become darlings of New York clubland (Madonna once supported them) and, eventually, make some rather dull records. Thankfully, this two-CD set rarely strays from the good stuff, collecting tracks from the peak 1978-85 period with plenty of obscure singles and Peel session versions to satisfy completists. For neophytes, however, much here will sound pretty startling. The likes of "Blown Away"--intense percussive jams, monkish chanting, squawks and squeaks coming from the undergrowth--are still both exciting and unnerving. A music that provokes discomfort as well as dancing, that has a jittery rather than slick momentum, remains ACR's powerful legacy. Contemporaries like 23 Skidoo and The Pop Group made some great records, not to mention American fellow travellers like ESG and Liquid Liquid. But nothing sums up the time and sound as effectively as ACR's "Shack Up": parched rhythms, jagged guitars, doom-laden vocals, and some very confusing carnival whistles. It's the point where Northern miserabilism and dancefloor culture collided, and even now it sounds fantastic.--John Mulvey
Chronique amazon.fr
Des groupes qui s'exprimèrent sous la bannière du label britannique Factory, aux côtés des New Order, Joy Division et Durutti Column produits par Martin Hannett, A Certain Ratio est un des plus injustement méconnus, au point que cette réédition tombe à pic, qui permet de découvrir combien il fut visionnaire de ce qui allait suivre, à New York, avec ESG par exemple. On doit déjà à la compagnie Soul Jazz une compilation concoctée de main de maître, qui a remis au goût du jour les rythmes industriels et robotiques de quelques formations phares des années 80 – Throbbing Gristle, Gan Of Four, Cabaret Voltaire,etc. – parmi lesquelles figurait en bonne place A Certain Ratio. Cela s'appellait fort à propos In The Beginning There Was Rhythm. Early, en compilant les années d'apprentissage, enfonce encore un plus avant le clou de ces jerks lobotomisés qui sont la marque de fabrique de "Flight" ou "Do The Du". Happy Mondays retiendra la leçon et aura le succès que l'on sait. --Philippe Robert
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Customer Reviews
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Most helpful customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Fine Introduction To Their Best Work,
By
This review is from: Early Best Of The First Five (Audio CD)
It's a shame that this two-disc set is all the ACR that remains in print. Between 1978 and 1982 they recorded three unique and intriguing albums (The Graveyard and The Ballroom, To Each, and Sextet) plus a slew of fantastic singles all under the direction of vocalist Simon Topping. Topping was often unjustly maligned for sounding too much like Ian Curtis. Yet his departure brought the magic to an abrupt end, and ACR lingered on for years playing increasingly tame, insipid dance music to ever diminishing audiences. Fortunately, this collection is largely culled from their Topping era stuff, which could best be described as a wonderfully weird amalgamation of funk, salsa, electro, krautrock, and African percussion. ACR daringly emphasized rhythm over melody with brilliantly original results. Despite its length, "Early" isn't as cohesive or interesting as the shorter and rarer Factory compilation "The Old and The New," which covers the same time period. But there's plenty here to whet your appetite. Since most longtime fans will already have all of the songs from disc one on CD or vinyl, it's a pity disc two isn't available separately. It's a short but fascinating collection of live broadcasts recorded for John Peel's legendary radio show with a few b-sides tacked on at the end. Fans of Liquid Liquid, Bush Tetras, ESG, and Talking Heads will really like this.
4.0 out of 5 stars
History changes everything . . .,
By aliled "aliled" (Austin, TX, United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Early Best Of The First Five (Audio CD)
Reading the (actually quite excellent) liner notes, you'd think that A Certain Ratio were on the leading lights in postpunk England, rather than the minor figures they actually were. That said, their music has dated pretty well, and their instincts about funk, dance, dub and cross-Atlantic musical hybridization were right on the money. This is a pretty generous package - 13 'hits' on one CD, and 11 obscurities on another, as well as a short film. Sound, presentation, track selection and appropriate liner note contextualization add up to a nifty set - you definitely don't need any more ACR than this, but you sort of do need at least this. If you're on the edge, Soul Jazz (same label that released this) also has a package called "In The Beginning There Was Rhythm" that features two of the tracks contained herein, as well as fine sounds from This Heat, the Slits and others...
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
3.8 out of 5 stars (5 customer reviews) 11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Fine Introduction To Their Best Work,
By Thomas Horan - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Early Best Of The First Five (Audio CD)
It's a shame that this two-disc set is all the ACR that remains in print. Between 1978 and 1982 they recorded three unique and intriguing albums (The Graveyard and The Ballroom, To Each, and Sextet) plus a slew of fantastic singles all under the direction of vocalist Simon Topping. Topping was often unjustly maligned for sounding too much like Ian Curtis. Yet his departure brought the magic to an abrupt end, and ACR lingered on for years playing increasingly tame, insipid dance music to ever diminishing audiences. Fortunately, this collection is largely culled from their Topping era stuff, which could best be described as a wonderfully weird amalgamation of funk, salsa, electro, krautrock, and African percussion. ACR daringly emphasized rhythm over melody with brilliantly original results. Despite its length, "Early" isn't as cohesive or interesting as the shorter and rarer Factory compilation "The Old and The New," which covers the same time period. But there's plenty here to whet your appetite. Since most longtime fans will already have all of the songs from disc one on CD or vinyl, it's a pity disc two isn't available separately. It's a short but fascinating collection of live broadcasts recorded for John Peel's legendary radio show with a few b-sides tacked on at the end. Fans of Liquid Liquid, Bush Tetras, ESG, and Talking Heads will really like this. 15 of 17 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
History changes everything . . .,
By aliled "aliled" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Early Best Of The First Five (Audio CD)
Reading the (actually quite excellent) liner notes, you'd think that A Certain Ratio were on the leading lights in postpunk England, rather than the minor figures they actually were. That said, their music has dated pretty well, and their instincts about funk, dance, dub and cross-Atlantic musical hybridization were right on the money. This is a pretty generous package - 13 'hits' on one CD, and 11 obscurities on another, as well as a short film. Sound, presentation, track selection and appropriate liner note contextualization add up to a nifty set - you definitely don't need any more ACR than this, but you sort of do need at least this. If you're on the edge, Soul Jazz (same label that released this) also has a package called "In The Beginning There Was Rhythm" that features two of the tracks contained herein, as well as fine sounds from This Heat, the Slits and others...
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
All respect due,
By P. Dunkley - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Early Best Of The First Five (Audio CD)
Factory Records are the only label where I bought anything they produced without listening first - at least for the first few releases. A Certain Ratio were for me their star band, much though I loved Joy Division. This compilation is worth buying for their version of Shack Up. Or for Flight. Or - especially - for Knife Slits Water. I don't think there has ever been such a dangerous, compelling slice of raw funk/punk as Knife Slits Water. They became a bit more funk mainstream as they went on, but the quality was always there. A great band. Where the hell is Simon Topping now???
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