A Certain Ratio, often abbreviated as ACR, are an English post-punk band formed in Greater Manchester in 1978. Their music combines angular guitar, prominent bass, experimental electronics, trumpet, saxophone, funk, disco, Latin percussion, jazz and dance-oriented rhythms. Although they emerged from the late 1970s punk scene, the band resisted conventional genre boundaries and became one of the most distinctive groups associated with Manchester's Factory Records.
The original lineup developed around vocalist and trumpeter Simon Topping, guitarist and electronics player Peter Terrell, bassist and vocalist Jez Kerr, guitarist and trumpeter Martin Moscrop, and drummer Donald Johnson. Vocalist Martha Tilson also became an important early member. The group initially performed without a drummer and built its sound around repetition, sparse instrumentation and an intense, physical rhythm section. Their name was taken from a lyric in Brian Eno's song "The True Wheel."
A Certain Ratio came to the attention of Joy Division manager Rob Gretton after he saw them perform. Gretton introduced the group to Tony Wilson, who signed them to his newly established Factory Records. Their debut single, "All Night Party," released in 1979, was produced by Martin Hannett and established the band's stark, bass-heavy approach. The single is widely regarded as one of the formative releases in Factory's early history.
The cassette album The Graveyard and the Ballroom followed in 1980, combining studio recordings with a live performance. It captured the tension between the band's abrasive post-punk side and its increasingly danceable rhythmic instincts. Their second album, To Each... (1981), pushed further toward funk and experimental dance music, while singles such as "Flight" and "Waterline" helped establish ACR as a leading act on the British independent scene.
The band's most influential period continued with Sextet and I'd Like to See You Again, both released in 1982. Sextet incorporated post-disco, Latin, Brazilian and jazz elements, while retaining the clipped guitars and restless momentum of the earlier material. The group also developed connections with other Manchester musicians through the related project Swamp Children, later known as Kalima. Topping and Terrell left in late 1982, prompting a major change in the band's lineup and sound.
ACR continued recording through the 1980s, releasing Force in 1986, their final album for Factory. Keyboard player Andy Connell later became associated with Swing Out Sister. The band subsequently recorded for A&M Records, issuing Good Together (1989) and acr:mcr (1990), before continuing with releases on Rob Gretton's Robs Records. Up in Downsville (1992) and Change the Station (1996) reflected the group's ongoing interest in electronic production and club culture.
After periods of intermittent activity, A Certain Ratio returned with Mind Made Up in 2008. Their catalog received renewed attention through reissues and retrospective collections, including acr:set and the 40th anniversary box set acr:box. A new phase began with ACR Loco in 2020, followed by remix and EP projects.
The band entered another prolific period with 1982 (2023) and It All Comes Down to This (2024). Produced by Dan Carey, the latter was recorded by the core trio of Kerr, Moscrop and Johnson and emphasized a direct, stripped-back performance style. In 2025, the group revisited its live history with Live in America, a release documenting its 1985 North American tour with New Order. In 2026, ACR announced The Joy of Sextet, a new mix of their classic album Sextet, alongside Force Majeure. Their enduring importance lies in their refusal to repeat themselves: A Certain Ratio have treated their history as material for further experimentation rather than as a formula to preserve.