A Certain Ratio, were one of those nearly bands. They nearly made it big. They either missed their moment or were that little bit too far ahead of the curve. Moody industrial dance funk would have its time but with Cabaret Voltaire and Chakk, five or six years later. Meanwhile ACR carried on exploring latin funk into fresh territory. Since their formation in 1977 they've been intermittently active continuing to perform and release new material. Like many bands before them they remain 'Big in Japan'.
Part of the post punk Manchester renaissance, their sound in this their earliest incarnation had the atmospheric gloom of industrial music with frequent glimmering flickers of funk /latin undertones. ACR's first album The Graveyard & The Ballroom, was one of the earliest releases on Tony Wilson's Factory Records in 1979. Joy Division's Unknown Pleasures coming out a few months before, took over the gloom and doom department. ACR moved on.
Flight was released as a single in 1980. Reaching number 7 in the UK Independent Chart. The mood infusing this track is typical of their early work. As a descending drum beat preludes a drone, low and foreboding that persists in the background for most of the track. Flecked with the random sparks from a funk guitar, then the deep rumble of a slap bassline over which comes a flat emotiveless vocal - 'We need flight, to feel the light.
I've never understood what Flight was about, I don't expect reading the lyrics would help. but on the level of feeling it tells me all I need to know. I find this 12 inch version one of the most captivating pieces of music from this period, moody and filled with something as yet untapped, about to be released, to literally take flight. Its been residing in my Top 10 all time favourites for many years.
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