''Sextet'' is the third album by English band
A Certain Ratio, released in 1982 by record label
Factory. It is the first album by the band not to be produced by
Martin Hannett.
The album spent eleven weeks in the
UK Independent Chart, peaking at number 1.
[Lazell, Barry (1997) ''Indie Hits 1980–1989'', Cherry Red Books, , p. 1]
Critical reception
The album generally received critical acclaim. Writing in ''
Smash Hits
''Smash Hits'' was a British music magazine aimed at young adults, originally published by EMAP. It ran from 1978 to 2006, and, after initially appearing monthly, was issued fortnightly during most of that time. The name survived as a brand fo ...
'' on the album's release in January 1982, Dave Rimmer noted that the album featured "dense and gloomy pieces", suitable for "the bleak mid-winter". He gave the album an overall 6 out of 10.
called it "a visionary musical statement" and "arguably their greatest moment
..Not since
PIL
Public Image Ltd (abbreviated and stylized as PiL) are an English post-punk band (and incorporated limited company) formed by singer John Lydon (previously known as the singer of Sex Pistols), guitarist Keith Levene, bassist Jah Wobble, and dr ...
's dominant
'''
Metal Box''
' had a band so seamlessly traversed such an unexpectedly broad musical landscape."
Stylus
A stylus (plural styli or styluses) is a writing utensil or a small tool for some other form of marking or shaping, for example, in pottery. It can also be a computer accessory that is used to assist in navigating or providing more precision w ...
called the album "a masterpiece
..a mesmerizing blend of ethnic rhythms and ghostly production that really sounds like nothing else."
Douglas Wolk of
Pitchfork thought that the album "still sounds like no other record: either that era's creepiest, boggiest dance album or its funkiest smear of brittle art-noise."
''
Uncut
Uncut may refer to:
* ''Uncut'' (film), a 1997 Canadian docudrama film by John Greyson about censorship
* ''Uncut'' (magazine), a monthly British magazine with a focus on music, which began publishing in May 1997
* '' BET: Uncut'', a Black Enter ...
'' magazine praised the record for its "taut, abrasive swagger," as well as its blend of
funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in African American communities in the mid-1960s when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of various music genres that were popular among African Americans in the m ...
and
world music influences.
''
Exclaim!
''Exclaim!'' is a Canadian music and entertainment publisher based in Toronto, which features in-depth coverage of new music across all genres with a special focus on Canadian and emerging artists. The monthly Exclaim! print magazine publishes 7 ...
'' critic Kevin Hainey described it as "a strong ACR album from start to finish", and wrote that Tilson's vocals "give the band a somewhat airier, more soulful feel, and the added attention to African rhythms only slightly relieves their trademark tension."
Nevertheless, ''
Trouser Press'' gave an unfavourable review to the album, writing: "There's no real focus to the discoid beats and wailing female vocals (Martha Tilson); ACR don't seem especially motivated by the music they're making."
critic Keith Farley thought that the record "upped the energy of A Certain Ratio's dour minimalist dance." Farley also stated "the electronics and rhythms are still curiously apart from song structure for the most part, making for an oddly distanced record."
Track listing
All tracks composed by A Certain Ratio
# "Lucinda" – 3:56
# "Crystal" – 2:55
# "Gum" – 2:59
# "Knife Slits Water" – 7:34
# "Skipscada" – 2:10
# "Day One" – 6:12
# "Rub Down" – 3:43
# "Rialto" – 3:45
# "Below the Canal" – 3:59
Personnel
Album personnel as adapted from album liner notes.
;Musicians
* Donald Johnson
* Jeremy Kerr
* Martha Tilson
* Martin Moscrop
* Peter Terrell
* Simon Topping
;Other personnel
* A Certain Ratio – production
* Phil Ault –
engineering
* EG –
mastering
* Steve McGarry – artwork
* Denis Ryan – artwork painting
Chart positions
;Album
References
External links
*
{{Authority control
1982 albums
A Certain Ratio albums
Factory Records albums
New wave albums by English artists
Funk albums by English artists
Dance music albums by English artists