A Certain Ratio - ACR Loco - Mute - Out Now
Along with former Factory Records stablemates New Order and Happy Mondays, Manchester's premier funkateers A Certain Ratio have become regional (perhaps even national) treasures with regular gigs and irregular recordings. Frequent online interaction with aficionados old and new in these more recent darker times has only further endeared them to people, including Daniel Miller's Mute successfully inking a deal to tastefully reissue their back catalogue along with a lavish box-set.
But then 2020 has been having other ideas - the pandemic, the subsequent isolation and a death in the 'family' might well have claimed many artists' mental and financial situations. But A Certain Ratio have ensured that the triumphs have outweighed the tragedies by being survivors as this first full album in 12 years ably demonstrates. With the sad passing of singer and queen of the tambourine Denise Johnson earlier this year (her solo album is now due in October), ACR Loco serves not only as a all-points covered tour de force, but also as a bittersweet, poignant and intimate homage to her memory and talent (her soulfulness is present on four tracks).
All the ACR hallmarks are here and then some. Opener Friends Around Us had previously been split into two parts for a limited edition 7" - it makes far more sense when conjoined. Initially sporting what sounds like a berimbau, elastic bassline, woozy sax and breathy vocals from singer Jez Kerr, the track acts as a gentle introduction before veering off into somewhat more urgent junglist acid territory and segueing into the more familiar funk of Bouncy Bouncy. Recalling Trouble Funk, Chuck Brown and their own I'd Like To See You Again period, this is ACR using Go-Go as their go to. I can imagine this translating very well live.
In fact much of ACR Loco should sound like a party under any roof, in any field or any lounge. The hypnotic and motorik Yo Yo Gi showcases some nifty cowbell and a similar mood to 1990's Spirit Dance, Supafreak sounds like all your favourite Fatback Band, Slave and Bar-kays bangers rolled into one and the heartfelt Family has one foot in Brit-funk and another in the future with its message of freedom, justice and harmony reflecting what any smart-minded human should be thinking. "Every child has the right to be born free". Exactly.
The driving force of Kerr, Martin Moscrop and Donald Johnson never seems to age or flag - their holy trinity of ankle-deep bass, irresistible rhythmic guitar and tight drumming is alive and funking. Impressively though, there are more strings to the band's bow than just slapping that bass and breaking down with the percussion for an hour - ACR also turn on the charm with romance and reflection as demonstrated on Always In Love and Berlin. They can also get a little stranger - check the album's final two joints. What's Wrong sounds like a paranoid narration from a sci-fi b-movie while closer Taxi Guy joins the likes of whistle-friendly carnival favourite Si Firmir O Grido and the underrated Tribeca as a potential classic. I think it's my personal favourite - it's really rather gorgeous from the front to the back.
The seamless ACR Loco, all dressed up in an eye-catching Trevor Johnson sleeve, is almost certainly their most consistent album since the likes of Force and ACR:MCR and is a much-needed musical repast of rhythm, melody and empathy we all need right now. It is nourishing and satisfying streetfood for the ears, feet and soul - you won't go hungry.
9/10