Sextet (A Certain Ratio album)

Critical reception

The album generally received critical acclaim. The Quietus called it "a visionary musical statement" and "arguably their greatest moment [...] Not since PIL's dominant 'Metal Box' had a band so seamlessly traversed such an unexpectedly broad musical landscape." Stylus 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 magazine praised the record for its "taut, abrasive swagger," as well as its blend of funk and world music influences. Exclaim! 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." AllMusic 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

1. "Lucinda" – 3:56
2. "Crystal" – 2:55
3. "Gum" – 2:59
4. "Knife Slits Water" – 7:34
5. "Skipscada" – 2:10
6. "Day One" – 6:12
7. "Rub Down" – 3:43
8. "Rialto" – 3:45
9. "Below the Canal" – 3:59

Personnel

Album personnel as adapted from album liner notes.

Chart positions