Early (A Certain Ratio album)

2002 compilation album by A Certain Ratio

Early

Compilation album by

A Certain Ratio

Released| 22 March 2002 (2002-03-22)
Label| Soul Jazz
Compiler|

* Adrian Self
* Stuart Baker[1]

A Certain Ratio chronology
| Change the Station
(1997)  | Early
(2002)  | Mind Made Up
(2008)

|
|

Early is a compilation album by the English post-punk band A Certain Ratio, released on 22 March 2002 by Soul Jazz Records.

## Content

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The album includes songs by A Certain Ratio between their formation in 1978 and 1985.[2] Dave Simpson of The Guardian described A Certain Ratio's sound as "a combination of Eno ambience, Wire post-punk, George Clinton funk and later, Latin percussion".[3]

## Release

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Early was released on 22 March 2002 by Soul Jazz Records.[2]

## Critical reception

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Professional ratingsReview scores

Source| Rating
AllMusic| [2]
The Guardian| [3]
Uncut| [4]

Andy Kellman of AllMusic gave the album a four star rating out of a potential five, noting that four songs are presented in two versions, which led to "eating up space that could have been taken up by other highlights." while concluding that "All things considered, there is no shortage of great material here, and the packaging is phenomenal."[2] Simpson also gave the album a four star rating, noting that tracks "The Fox" and "Life's a Scream" "would have been massive hits".[3] Matt Harvey of the BBC commented that "on listening to these tracks you can see why house music, as the 80s progressed, found a spiritual home in Manchester (it's not for nothing that Andy Weatherall cites ACR as his favourite band). Tracks like "Knife Slits Water" kick in a way that makes you think Joey Beltram might have spent his school holidays visiting a trendy uncle in Manchester."[5] David Stubbs of Uncut referred to the album as a "sorely overdue CD release, in particular for the long unavailable material from their first two EPs" while noting that "A pity 1981's To Each... is so under-represented here – "Forced Laugh'" would have topped off this collection perfectly."[4]

## Track listing

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Disc one: Early

1. "Do the Du" – 2:49
2. "Flight" – 6:04
3. "Waterline" – 4:07
4. "Shack Up" – 3:13
5. "The Fox" – 3:03
6. "Blown Away" – 3:11
7. "Gum" – 3:01
8. "Life's a Scream" – 6:32
9. "Skipscada" – 2:06
10. "Knife Slits Water" – 7:32
11. "Sounds Like Something Dirty" – 6:54
12. "Touch" – 5:03
13. "Saturn" – 3:48

Disc two: B-Sides, Rarities & Sessions

1. "All Night Party" (original 7" single) – 3:13
2. "Faceless" (Graveyard & Ballroom) – 2:18
3. "Do the Du" (John Peel session, 1979) – 2:41
4. "All Night Party" (John Peel session, 1979) – 3:47
5. "Flight" (John Peel session, 1979) – 3:15
6. "Choir" (John Peel session, 1979) – 3:05
7. "Skipscada" (John Peel session, 1981) – 2:04
8. "Felch" (Original NYC Mix) – 3:43
9. "Abracadubra" (Sir Horatio 12") – 3:31
10. "Tumba Rhumba" (7" single B-side) – 2:34
11. "Si Fermir o Grido" (Touch cassette) – 3:22
12. "Tribeca" (video) – 11:52

## References

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1. ^ Early (Media notes). Stuart Baker. Soul Jazz Records. SJR CD60.`{{cite AV media notes}}`: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
2. ^ a b c d Kellman.
3. ^ a b c Simpson 2002.
4. ^ a b Stubbs 2002.
5. ^ Harvey 2002.

### Sources

[edit]

* Harvey, Matt (2002). "A Certain Ratio Early Review". BBC. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
* Kellman, Andy. "Early - A Certain Ratio". AllMusic. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
* Simpson, Dave (29 March 2002). "It Must Be Love". The Guardian. p. 18. Retrieved 23 February 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
* Stubbs, David (May 2002). "A Certain Ratio: Early (Soul Jazz)****". Uncut. Retrieved 28 October 2021 – via Rock's Backpages.

* v
* t
* e

A Certain Ratio

Studio albums|

* The Graveyard and the Ballroom (1980)
* To Each... (1981)
* Sextet (1982)
* I'd Like to See You Again (1982)
* Force (1986)
* Good Together (1989)
* Change the Station (1997)
* Mind Made Up (2008)

Compilation albums|

* Early (2002)

Related articles|

* Discography

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