[2018-05-25] A Certain Ratio "I'd Like To See You Again", "Good Together", "acr:mcr", "Up In Downsville" reissues (Mute)

Linda · **Posted:** Tue Feb 27, 2018 4:06 pm

Description
I'd Like to See You Again
I'd Like To See You Again, the third studio album by Manchester postpunk funk group A Certain Ratio, originally released by Factory Records in October 1982. I'd Like To See You Again was the last Ratio album to feature the original quintet of Donald Johnson, Jeremy Kerr, Martin Moscrop, Simon Topping and Peter Terrell, and saw the band move from the ethereal textures of Sextet towards a more stripped-down sound, influenced by the Latin and electrofunk scene in New York. Stand out tracks include rubber-thumbed bass workout “Touch”, vocoderized percussion excursion “Show Case” and the minimalist, muscular grooves of “Guess Who - which was also issued as a 12” single on Factory Benelux.

Good Together
Alive and well after their split with Factory Records, A Certain Ratio were in euphoric and emotive form for 1989’s Good Together. Bursting with the boundless positivity of the acid house era, this release sees A Certain Ratio divert their usual post-punk funk into the “Madchester” baggy sound of the time, exploiting conventional song structures to convey themes of togetherness and hope. Soulful, smooth and packed with proper anthems, including the saucy eyed serenade “The Big E” and the wriggling acid pop of the title track, Good Together remains the A Certain Ratio choice for ravers young and old.

acr:mcr
A Certain Ratio embraced the ethic and culture of the late seventies post-punk explosion, but sounded like nothing else around them. Formed in 1978, the band had various members throughout their career, and a core line-up of Jez Kerr, Martin Moscrop and Donald Johnson. The band introduced the avant-garde elements of funk, jazz, electronics, tape loops and technology to the pop song, with acr:mcr adding elements of the emerging “Madchester” sound of the time, continuing in the baggy tradition of 1989’s Good Together.

Up In Downsville
If 1989’s Good Together saw A Certain Ratio translating the acid house ethos through conventional song, Up In Downsville was a sweat drenched return to the heart of the dance floor. Originally released on Rob Gretton’s plainly named imprint Rob’s Records, the album shuffles through melodic house, slick acid jazz and brooding electro-funk, pulling together the disparate strands of Manchester’s clubland into one infectious whole. The groove is king throughout but never hits harder than on album closer “Up In Downsville Pt. 2” , a flute led masterpiece of Mancunian funk which forms a wonderful contrast to enduring Balearic classic “Salvador’s (Fish)”, the album’s nest moment.

I'd Like To See You Again
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07B16NSPQ/?tag=imwan-20

Good Together
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07B5WB72N/?tag=imwan-20

acr:mcr
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079ZSFHG5/?tag=imwan-20

Up In Downsville
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079ZSVN4Y/?tag=imwan-20

Linda · **Posted:** Tue Feb 27, 2018 4:08 pm

Mute has uploaded a new audio video to promote the reissues, one of the tracks from acr:mcr.

Linda · **Posted:** Fri Apr 20, 2018 7:28 pm

Bump: Good Together has been added to this round of reissues, and all four CDs have been pushed back to May 25th.

[2018-05-25] A Certain Ratio "I'd Like To See You Again", "Good Together", "acr:mcr", "Up In Downsville" reissues (Mute)

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