A Certain Ratio

A Certain Ratio
Name	A Certain Ratio
Origin	Manchester, England
Genres	Post-punk, funk, dance, electronic
Years active	1977–present
Labels	Factory Records, Robs Records, A Certain Ratio Records, Creation Records, Rob's Records, Mute Records
Associated acts	New Order, Joy Division, Happy Mondays, The Durutti Column

A Certain Ratio is an English band formed in Manchester in 1977 that fused post-punk, funk, and dance music, becoming a pivotal act in the late 1970s and 1980s British independent scene. The group recorded for Factory Records and toured with acts associated with Manchester's post-punk network, influencing later developments in acid house, Madchester, and dance-punk. Their career intersects with key figures and institutions in British music and culture including venues, labels, and festivals.

History

The band emerged amid the late-1970s Manchester milieu alongside Joy Division, The Fall, and The Durutti Column, signing to Factory Records and releasing early singles that resonated within the post-punk ecosystem. In the early 1980s they recorded at studios linked to Martin Hannett and released albums produced by people connected to Peter Hook and Bernard Sumner of New Order. Touring in Europe and the United States, they shared bills with Siouxsie and the Banshees, Public Image Ltd, and Pere Ubu, and performed at venues such as The Hacienda and festivals like Reading Festival. The band's catalog moved through independent labels linked to the Manchester scene and later connected to Mute Records and Creation Records, reflecting shifts in British independent label networks.

Musical Style and Influences

Their sound combined rhythms drawn from funk and disco traditions with angular textures patterned after post-punk contemporaries such as Wire and Gang of Four, and incorporated electronic practices associated with Kraftwerk and dub techniques used by King Tubby. Critics compared their grooves to artists on Salsoul Records and noted affinities with the dance experiments of Talking Heads and the avant-garde pop of Brian Eno. Through studio work and live improvisation they engaged techniques popularized by Steve Reich and production aesthetics linked to Martin Hannett and engineers who worked with Joy Division and New Order.

Band Members

Over time the personnel included musicians who participated in other projects tied to Manchester and wider British music circles. Early and notable members collaborated with figures from Factory Records and musicians who later worked with The Durutti Column, New Order, and Happy Mondays. Contributors to recordings and tours included players with connections to Cabaret Voltaire and The Fall, and session musicians who had appeared on releases by The Smiths and Echo & the Bunnymen. Later lineups featured artists who performed alongside members of Primal Scream and The Stone Roses in festival contexts. The band's rotating roster reflects intersections with networks around John Peel's radio programs and sessions at studios used by BBC Radio 1 producers.

Discography

Their albums and singles were issued across labels linked to influential independent directories and distribution networks. Key releases were produced in studios frequented by musicians associated with Factory Records, and were distributed in compilations alongside tracks by Joy Division, New Order, and The Durutti Column. Reissues of their catalog were handled by record companies that also reissued works by Echo & the Bunnymen and Magazine. The discography connects to compilations curated by figures from NME and collections promoted at events like Glastonbury Festival and international fairs where labels including Mute Records and Creation Records showcased artists.

Live Performances and Tours

The band's touring history included venues central to the Manchester scene and international stages where post-punk and dance crossover acts performed, such as The Hacienda, Whiskey a Go Go, and festivals like Reading Festival and Glastonbury Festival. They supported and were supported by artists from labels such as Factory Records and Mute Records, and played alongside bands including Siouxsie and the Banshees, Public Image Ltd, and Pere Ubu. Performances were documented in radio sessions for shows hosted by John Peel and broadcast on BBC Radio 1, and they appeared at club nights influenced by DJs associated with The Haçienda and the early acid house scene.

Legacy and Influence

The group's synthesis of post-punk and dance rhythms influenced later movements and artists connected to Madchester, acid house, and dance-punk, including acts on labels such as Factory Records and Creation Records. Contemporary bands and DJs cite their records in the same lineage as New Order, Happy Mondays, Primal Scream, and The Stone Roses, and their work has been anthologized alongside tracks by Joy Division in retrospectives curated by music historians and institutions including British Music Experience. Their approach to rhythm and production has been referenced by producers who worked with Blur and Oasis and by remix culture tied to labels such as Salsoul Records and 4AD.

Category:English post-punk music groups