Early (+Bonus CD) - Certain Ratio (A) (CD 2002)

If you haven't heard A Certain Ratio (ACR), this is probably not as good an introduction to their work as the album Septet. ACR's early music was in a constant state of transition. They began as an odd, artsy, punk-post-punk band with some hints of Section 25, Joy Division, and Mutant Funk (i.e. Slits/Pop Group). But immediately after their first couple of releases, they discovered their niche and embarked upon a path all their own.

A Certain Ratio was a very good post-punk British band featuring heavy drum and very funky bass work with funk guitar and minimalist droning vocals. Other instruments were added on some of the more adventurous and cacophonous numbers. And, at least around the time of the final release re-presented here (the classic Double 12"), the band began entered into a moody experimental phase which would carry them through their best albums - Septet and To Each...

The CD nicely re-presents ACR's early EPs, including some of their rarely-heard borderline art-rock/punk rock stuff, and is a must-have for ACR fans. I saw ACR during its first (and possibly only) American tour, at the Ritz in NYC. The band was actually even more entertaining loose and live.