Fireside Chat

A Certain Ratio

Le Son Du Maquis, UK

Formed during the amphetamine-crazed soundwave that was Punk UK, they released their debut single in 1979 - "All Night Party/The Thin Boys" through the then fledgling Factory Records. They then completed a series of gigs around the country with label-mates Joy Division, followed by their debut long player "The Graveyard And The Ballroom". At the turn of the eighties, the story switched from post-punk Manchester to NYC, where the band played gigs with ESG, a still fledgling New Order and a then, little known Madonna. In 1987, the band moved from Factory to A&M Records and then eventually to old friend Rob Gretton's label (Robs' Records) in 1991 and in 1997 after seven albums the band began to lie low. The turn of the millennium however saw a resurgence as their influence on a plethora of DJs and musicians across the globe (think The Rapture and LCD Soundsystem) made them cool again. The band continue to write and record and have announced their live return with a headline slot at 2009's Offset Festival in London. We caught up with them and they told us about being supported by Madonna, giving their studio time to ESG and how it took them 10 years to work out what a genius Martin Hannett was...