Album Review: ACR Loco by A Certain Ratio

In December 1982, the post-punk group A Certain Ratio flew to New York for a two night residency at the notorious Danceteria nightclub. They had been warmly anticipated, being seen as the Anglo equivalent to the city’s then musical darlings Talking Heads. Both groups successfully took a functional approach to songwriting and fused African inspired drumming with urgent guitars and hypnotic wordplay.

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A Certain Ratio headed toward the making of their first album in a dozen years fired up by fruitful touring, involvement in an extensive reissue campaign capped with ACR: Box, and remixes commissioned by Mute labelmates ranging from fellow Manchester post-punk Barry Adamson to Maps. Perhaps these developments are part of why ACR Loco is freer in spirit and lighter in touch than their previous LP, Mind Made Up. While ACR could be forgiven for feeling the weight of a 40-year history, there's a spring in their step, one that lasts long after the descriptively titled "Bouncy Bouncy" (which could also be an apt, if a bit too silly, title for the album).

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Since releasing their ninth studio album Mind Made Up in 2008, Manchester mainstays A Certain Ratio have been taking stock of their history and settling themselves comfortably in the present. Last year's ACR: BOX tracked their evolution from the icy post-punk of their 1979 debut 7" to a rhythmically expansive sound informed by R&B, go-go, and acid house; meanwhile, a series of commissions from artists like Maps and ShadowParty had them reworking contemporary songs according to their own funky, minimalistic vision. Apparently fired up by their archival and studio work, the band recorded ACR Loco, their first collection of new songs in 12 years.

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