Soul Jazz have re-pressed Early, their acclaimed A Certain Ratio anthology.

Essentially a ‘best of’, Early is considered the definitive ACR compilation, featuring classic  songs like ‘Shack Up’ and ‘Knife Slits Water’ alongside more obscure fare. The 2xCD version features 11 bonus tracks, including various Peel sessions and single mixes.

A Certain Ratio – originally Simon Topping (vocals), Martin Moscrop (guitar/trumpet), Peter Terrell (tape loops) and Jeremy Kerr (bass) -were one of the first groups to sign to Factory Records; they introduced dance music into the Manchester mix long before New Order or The Happy Mondays. Their dub-infused punk-funk recordings have proved massively influential over the past thirty years, and Andy Weatherall has called them his favourite ever band (a prestigious accolade in our estimation). They debuted in 1979 with the ‘All Night Party’ 7″, but it was the release of ‘Shack Up’ in 1980 that really set the ball rolling. The record became an underground dance anthem in New York, leading the band to play gigs at venues like Dancetaria and The Roxy; they were famously supported by a young Madonna for one such show.

The band bolstered their reputation with the chilly, Martin Hannett-produced To Each LP, before falling in love with Nu Yorican percussion and cutting the magnificent, more flamboyant Sextet (1982). After 1985 the band’s line-up changed and there was an ill-judged late bid for mainsteam acceptance; Early wisely focusses on the period ’78-’85, when there seemed no limit to ACR’s energy and innovation.

First released in 2002, Early was re-pressed in 2008. The 2010 edition should be in stores next month; more info here.

2xLP Tracklist:

A1  Do The Do
A2 Flight
A3 Waterline
B1 Shack Up
B2 The Fox
B3 Blown Away
B4 Gum
C1 Life’s A Scream
C2 Skipscada
C3 Knife Slits Water
D1 Sounds Like Something Dirty
D2 Touch
D3 Saturn