A Certain Ratio
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A Certain Ratio

A Certain Ratio formed in Manchester in 1977 with Peter Terrell on bass, Paul Davis on guitar, Jeremy Kerr on keyboards, and Simon Topping on drums. Their...

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Editor's note

A Certain Ratio's post-punk funk from Manchester

The Manchester band that mixed sharp guitars with danceable grooves, starting in 1977.

For their blend, start with 'Do The Du' from that first album. 'Crippled Child' shows how they kept that tension between sharpness and groove alive years later.

They arrived with a sound that didn't fit neatly into either punk or disco. Tracks like 'Do The Du' and 'All Night Party' from their 1980 debut had that post-punk edge but moved with a funk rhythm section. That combination, angular guitars over danceable basslines, became their signature, and you can hear it in later songs like 'The Big Emotion' too.

They formed in Manchester in 1977 with Peter Terrell, Paul Davis, Jeremy Kerr, and Simon Topping. Producer Martin Hannett shaped their early sound on 'The Graveyard and the Ballroom' in 1980, and they've kept releasing records since, including 'Good Together' in 1989 and 'Mind Made Up' in 2019, with lineup shifts along the way.

edit_note Ethan Walker · LyroVerse team · Apr 20
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LyroVerse editor's notes are short interpretation guides, not final verdicts. If something needs a correction, visit About or Contact.

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A Certain Ratio formed in Manchester in 1977 with Peter Terrell on bass, Paul Davis on guitar, Jeremy Kerr on keyboards, and Simon Topping on drums. Their early sound was shaped by producer Martin Hannett, who worked on their 1980 debut album 'The Graveyard and the Ballroom.' That record established their mix of post-punk energy with funk rhythms and electronic textures, heard on tracks like 'Do The Du' and 'All Night Party.'

They released 'Good Together' in 1989 and have put out records periodically since, including a self-titled album in 1997 and 'Mind Made Up' in 2019.

The lineup shifted over time, with musicians like Tony Quigley, Donald Johnson, and Denise Johnson joining at various points. They've collaborated with artists including New Order, Björk, and Iggy Pop. Songs like 'The Big Emotion' and 'Crippled Child' show their persistent interest in blending sharp post-punk with danceable grooves.

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Where should I start with A Certain Ratio on LyroVerse?

The Start here section opens with Do The Du, Shack Up, and All Night Party so you can move through the artist's stronger lyric pages first.

How many lyric pages are live for A Certain Ratio?

LyroVerse currently has 5 visible lyric pages for A Certain Ratio.

Does A Certain Ratio have photos on LyroVerse?

Yes. There are 2 photos available, and the preview gallery on this page links to the full photos section.

Does LyroVerse have an editor's note for A Certain Ratio?

Yes. The editor's note on this page is a short LyroVerse team guide, not a final verdict on the artist.

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