A Certain Ratio announce ‘The Joy of Sextet’ and ‘Force Majeure’ on Mute
A Certain Ratio (1985)
A Certain Ratio, the English post-punk and funk band from Greater Manchester, will release two companion albums, “The Joy of Sextet” and “Force Majeure,” on 28 August 2026 via Mute. The releases mark 45 years since the band entered Revolution Studios in Cheadle Hulme, Stockport, to record “Sextet,” and 40 years since the release of “Force.”
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A Certain Ratio companion albums on Mute
“The Joy of Sextet” is a new companion release to “Sextet,” the band’s 1982 Factory Records album. Andy Meecham, also known as The Emperor Machine, mixed the material from the original 1981 two-inch multitrack tapes. Meecham says the process involved “adding some new dynamics” while keeping “the original raw energy and feel.”
“Force Majeure” is a nine-track companion release to “Force,” the band’s 1986 Factory Records album. The release includes previously unreleased original versions, including “Force,” a title track that did not appear on the original 1986 album. The material comes from four-track recordings made by the late Stuart “Jammer” James, who co-produced “Force” with A Certain Ratio. Martin Moscrop says the recordings were made to “review the songs for a possible album” and “practice playing them live.”
“The Joy of Sextet” and “Force Majeure” will be available on limited edition “Unforced Purple” coloured vinyl sets, CD and digital formats.
‘The Joy of Sextet’ tracklist
- “Lucinda (EM)”
- “Crystal (EM Night Version)”
- “Gum (EM)”
- “Knife Slits Water (EM)”
- “Tumba Rhumba (EM)”
- “Day One (EM)”
- “Below the Canal (EM)”
- “Waterline (EM Dub)”
- “Knife Slits Water (EM 12” Version)”
‘Force Majeure’ tracklist
- “Only Together (FM)”
- “Bootsy (FM)”
- “Naked and White (FM)”
- “And Then She Smiles (FM)”
- “Take Me Down (FM)”
- “Anthem (FM)”
- “The Runner (FM)”
- “Force (FM)”
- “Nostromo A Go Go (FM)”
‘Sextet’ and ‘Force’ anniversary tour dates
A Certain Ratio will tour the UK in October 2026 for the “Sextet” and “Force” anniversary tour. The band will play both albums in full, with an interval between the two sets.
- 7 Oct – Birmingham, Castle and Falcon
- 8 Oct – Bristol, Exchange
- 9 Oct – London, Dingwalls
- 10 Oct – Lewes, Con Club
- 13 Oct – Newcastle, The Cluny
- 14 Oct – Edinburgh, The Voodoo Rooms
- 15 Oct – Glasgow, Oran Mor
- 16 Oct – Blackpool, Bootleg Social
- 17 Oct – Leeds, Brudenell Social Club
- 22 Oct – Hebden Bridge, The Trades – sold out
- 23 Oct – Stoke, Sugarmill
- 24 Oct – Manchester, Band on the Wall – sold out
- 25 Oct – Manchester, Band on the Wall – new date added
About A Certain Ratio
A Certain Ratio was formed in Greater Manchester in 1977. The early line-up also included Peter Terrell on guitar and electronics, Simon Topping on vocals and trumpet, Jez Kerr on bass and vocals, Martin Moscrop on trumpet and guitar, and Donald Johnson on drums, with Martha Tilson joining soon after. The band brought a mix of post-punk with funk, disco and Latin percussion. They soon got picked up by Factory Records.
The group released “All Night Party” through Factory Records in 1979, with Martin Hannett producing. “The Graveyard and the Ballroom” followed in 1980 as a cassette release, before “To Each…” arrived in 1981. “Sextet” was released in January 1982 by Factory Records and was recorded at Revolution Studios in Cheadle Hulme. The album spent eleven weeks on the UK Independent Albums Chart and reached number 1.
“Force” followed in November 1986 as the band’s fifth studio album and final Factory Records studio album. It was recorded and mixed in July and August 1986 at Yello 2 Studios in Stockport. Stuart James co-produced the album with A Certain Ratio. The album introduced Tony Quigley on saxophone and was the last ACR studio album to feature Andy Connell as a full-time member before he focused on Swing Out Sister.
After Factory, A Certain Ratio moved through A&M Records, Rob’s Records, Creation, Soul Jazz and later Mute. Mute began reissuing the band’s back catalogue in 2018. The band released “ACR Loco” in 2020, followed by the “A,” “C,” and “R” EPs in 2021, “1982” in 2023 and “It All Comes Down to This” in 2024.
In 2023 A Certain Ratio also released Emperor Machine’s reworking of “Constant Curve”.
The band currently consists of Jez Kerr, Martin Moscrop, Donald Johnson, Tony Quigley, Matt Steele, Ellen Beth Abdi and Viv Griffin.
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