In 1978, A Certain Ratio's idea of a new funk must have seemed like anathema to most British punks. Imagine: sublimating that righteous grumpiness, those defiant angles into a groove, of all things. But the first wave of post-punk bands, lead by ACR, proved this most unlikely of hybrids wasn't just possible, but utterly desirable. Early is compelling evidence of ACR's peculiar genius. Birthed in Manchester and signed to the nascent Factory label alongside Joy Division, they went on to become darlings of New York clubland (Madonna once supported them) and, eventually, make some rather dull records. Thankfully, this two-CD set rarely strays from the good stuff, collecting tracks from the peak 1978-85 period with plenty of obscure singles and Peel session versions to satisfy completists. For neophytes, however, much here will sound pretty startling. The likes of "Blown Away"--intense percussive jams, monkish chanting, squawks and squeaks coming from the undergrowth--are still both exciting and unnerving. A music that provokes discomfort as well as dancing, that has a jittery rather than slick momentum, remains ACR's powerful legacy. Contemporaries like 23 Skidoo and The Pop Group made some great records, not to mention American fellow travellers like ESG and Liquid Liquid. But nothing sums up the time and sound as effectively as ACR's "Shack Up": parched rhythms, jagged guitars, doom-laden vocals, and some very confusing carnival whistles. It's the point where Northern miserabilism and dancefloor culture collided, and even now it sounds fantastic.--John Mulvey
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