Sextet (A Certain Ratio album)

Sextet
Studio album by A Certain Ratio
Released 1982 (1982)
Studio Revolution Studios
Genre
Length 37:13
Label Factory
Producer A Certain Ratio
A Certain Ratio chronology
To Each...
(1981)		 Sextet
(1982)		 I'd Like to See You Again
(1982)

Sextet is the third album by English band A Certain Ratio, released in 1982 by record label Factory. It is the first album by the band not to be produced by Martin Hannett.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]
Pitchfork8.1/10[4]
StylusA–[2]
Uncut4/5[5]

The album generally received critical acclaim. The Quietus called it "a visionary musical statement" and "arguably their greatest moment [...] Not since PIL's dominant 'Metal Box' had a band so seamlessly traversed such an unexpectedly broad musical landscape."[6] Stylus called the album "a masterpiece [...] a mesmerizing blend of ethnic rhythms and ghostly production that really sounds like nothing else."[2] Douglas Wolk of Pitchfork thought that the album "still sounds like no other record: either that era's creepiest, boggiest dance album or its funkiest smear of brittle art-noise."[4] Uncut magazine praised the record for its "taut, abrasive swagger," as well as its blend of funk and world music influences.[5] Exclaim! critic Kevin Hainey described it as "a strong ACR album from start to finish", and wrote that Tilson's vocals "give the band a somewhat airier, more soulful feel, and the added attention to African rhythms only slightly relieves their trademark tension."[7]

Nevertheless, Trouser Press gave an unfavourable review to the album, writing: "There's no real focus to the discoid beats and wailing female vocals (Martha Tilson); ACR don't seem especially motivated by the music they're making."[8] AllMusic critic Keith Farley thought that the record "upped the energy of A Certain Ratio's dour minimalist dance." Farley also stated "the electronics and rhythms are still curiously apart from song structure for the most part, making for an oddly distanced record."[3]

Track listing

  1. "Lucinda" – 3:56
  2. "Crystal" – 2:55
  3. "Gum" – 2:59
  4. "Knife Slits Water" – 7:34
  5. "Skipscada" – 2:10
  6. "Day One" – 6:12
  7. "Rub Down" – 3:43
  8. "Rialto" – 3:45
  9. "Below the Canal" – 3:59

Personnel

Album personnel as adapted from album liner notes.[9]

Musicians
  • Donald Johnson
  • Jeremy Kerr
  • Martha Tilson
  • Martin Moscrop
  • Peter Terrel
  • Simon Topping
Other personnel
  • A Certain Ratio – production
  • Phil Ault – engineering
  • EG – mastering
  • Steve McGarry – artwork
  • Denis Ryan – artwork painting

Chart positions

Album
Charts (1982) Peak
position
UK Albums Chart[10] 53

References

  1. ↑ McFarlane, Dean. "A Certain Ratio - I'd Like to See You Again". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 Hutlock, Todd (October 14, 2004). "A Certain Ratio – Sextet – Review – Stylus Magazine". Stylus Magazine. Archived from the original on 12 November 2006. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 Farley, Keith. "Sextet – A Certain Ratio | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 Wolk, Douglas (3 November 2014). "A Certain Ratio - Sextet". Pitchfork. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  5. 1 2 "A Certain Ratio – Sextet". Uncut. 1 September 2004. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  6. ↑ Middles, Mick (September 26, 2014). "The Quietus | Reviews | A Certain Ratio". The Quietus. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  7. ↑ Hainey, Kevin (30 September 2004). "A Certain Ratio - Sextet". Exclaim!. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  8. ↑ Flashner, Graham; Sheridan, David. "TrouserPress.com :: A Certain Ratio". TrouserPress.com. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  9. ↑ A Certain Ratio – Sextet album liner notes
  10. ↑ "A Certain Ratio album charts". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
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