A Certain Ratio – I'd Like To See You Again

Very nice pressing, totally clean and dynamic! Black & white sleev is a nice touch, with a nice inlay and inner sleeve. Note that the "HD" download is 16 bit.

The bass playing on this LP is pretty exceptional. OK it's all a slight departure from previous releases, but this was just one stepping stone towards the MCR album. ACR moved with the times instead of standing still

This outing leaves behind the atmospheric, subtle textures of Sextet and veers into more traditional 80's jazz-funk and disco territory aiming directly at the Hacienda dance-floor. Lyrically it also reverts to type even including cheesy 'Work that body' refrains. What they have gained in musical proficiency - particularly the dexterous slap-bass and undulating percussion patterns, they seem to have somehow lost in creative direction. It's certainly a long way from 'To Each'...

ACR is going all Funky, Dubby and druggy on this one with a lot of horny lyrics added to it. Very daring in a period when hip music always sounded gloomy and dark. This is one of their best sessions ever and it still sounds fresh and crispy today. A perfect example of straight up Funky Dancemusic from a band who always have been influenced by all styles of Dance. Hence the cover of the record where ACR is shown in a club (the Hacienda).

ACR has gone disco now. They still use funk and brazilian hectic percussion, but this LP seems to be the weakest of their early-80-series. But still it has something...