Als eine der ersten Bands auf dem Factory Records Label von Tony Wilson sind A Certain Ration aus der Historie des britischen Post-Punks nicht wegzudenken. In der ihm eigenen Hybris kündigte Tony Wilson die Band bei ihrer Debütsingle damals als “the new Sex Pistols” an, was natürlich aus mehrerlei Gründen weit entfernt von irgendeiner Realität war. Im wunderbaren “24 Hours Party People” Film über Factory Records wird Wilson zudem der schöne Satz “having all the energy of Joy Division but better clothes” über A Certain Ratio in den Mund gelegt.

Ihre “All Night Party” wurde vom großen Martin Hannett produziert, der eben auch den Joy Division – Platten ihren unverwechselbaren Sound schenkte. Da Post-Punk schon immer das offenste aller Punkgenres war, sind natürlich auch A Certain Ration nie stehen geblieben, sondern haben als eine der ersten Bands frühzeitig mit Funk, Disco und nichtwestlicher Rhythmik experimentiert. Wenige der britischen Post-Punk-Acts waren näher an ihren New Yorker No Wave Cousinen als A Certain Ratio!

Auch wenn die Gruppe immer wieder Pausen einlegte, sind sie nun bereits bei ihrer zwölften Langspielplatte angekommen, auf der vor allem der Titelsong “1982” überzeugt, ein elektronischer, kühler Track wie gemacht für eine Synth-Wave-Disco.

* Your three favourite Punk singles/songs?

Punk? I haven’t listened to punk music since 1978, but these are ones that made a lasting impression on me

White Riot, The Clash

No One, Johnny Moped

Don’t Dictate, Penetration

* A record that will make you dance?

Young MC, Know How

* Your favourite song lyrics?

I don’t really listen to lyrics but Unfinished Sympathy by Massive Attack’s lyrics mean a lot to me.

* The best “new” artist / band right now? 

Best new artist would have to be Ellen Beth Abdi who sings with us. You are in for a treat when you finally hear her stuff. Ellen writes amazing lyrics and she is a brilliant musician. She plays flute and keyboards very well and her music is so fresh and new

Best new band:

Say She She
Ellen actually turned me onto them and we went to see them in Manchester. They are amazing singers and the band are on point and as funky as Funk

* Your favourite song about rebellion/revolution?    

Anything by The Last Poets who were responsible for the birth of Rap music, and in particular ‘Mean Machine’.

* Your favourite song this year so far?

It would have to an ACR song of course, so ‘Afro Dizzy’ by A Certain Ratio

* Your favourite movie about music – and why?

Summer of Soul. There is so much good music in that film and it sounds and looks so good. All those people celebrating their culture and diversity in such a beautiful way through music

* Joy Division, The Fall or Cabaret Voltaire– which one do you prefer and why?

Cabaret Voltaire because we were good friends with them and we loved everything they did. I like the way they fuse electronic sounds with real sounds and take it to a different dimension

* Your favourite cover artwork? 

Sextet by A Certain Ratio – the colours are beautiful, the texture of the original sleeve is unique.

* The best song you’ve ever written / recorded?

‘Spirit Dance’ by A Certain Ratio because we recorded that in the studio that I built in the late 80s and it still sound amazing today

* Your favourite German song/record?

It has to be anything by Kraftwerk and in particular, ‘Numbers’.  Kraftwerk were such a big influence on us and still are.

* Your favourite record of all time?

Wow, that’s a difficult question, I could make a list of at least 20…

What’s Going On by Marvin Gaye

(Martin Moscrop – Gründungsmitglied von A Certain Ratio und in der Band Gitarrist & Trompeter)

Das neue Album von A Certain Ratio ist gerade erschienen: