Rainy City Remixes

 

A Certain Ratio - Looking For A Certain Ratio [CRELP 159 UK 2LP 1994 24-Bit 176.4kHz FLAC]

Some of you will know my position when it comes to late eighties/early nineties dance music remixes, those feelings tend to get magnified when it comes to remix engineers tinkering with a band that I've followed since the early eighties. Looking For A Certain Ratio was a double 33rpm or compact disc set closing the chapter on their brief reissue relationship with Creation Records. 

The band went to a variety of remix chums, mostly from Manchester to work back catelogue tracks from the eighties into dancefloor tracks for the nineties ....with varying levels of success. Those involved include Graham Massey (808 State), Bernard Sumner (New Order & Electronic), John McCready & Jon DaSilva (Hacienda DJs), Sub Sub (now Doves) and Mark Brydon (from Fon Records & Chakk).

I am no fan of what Bernard Sumner did to Shack Up, however Graham Massey's remix of Flight is interesting to say the least. The rework of The Fox adds some extra funk, Mark Brydon's rework of Blown Away is an electronic revelation, however the Primetime Mix of Touch strips away that wonderful slap bassline to diminish the impact of the original track. Andy Connell's remix of Life's A Scream sounds tedious and boring, however the Way Out West mix of Mickey Way is the best track on the album. What is extra disappointing are the missing tracks on the vinyl edition, where we lose out on the subtle and soulful rework of There's Only This by Sub Sub and Tim Oliver's extra latin mix of Si Firmir O Grido. I'll up the CD version to Digitalia soon with those tracks.

A1 Shack Up (12" Vox)

A2 Flight (Massey Mix)

B1 The Fox (MacSilva Mix)

B2 Blown Away (Puffin'stuff Mix)

C1 Touch (Primetime Mix)

C2 Life's A Scream (Emergency Ward 10 Mix)

D1 Mickey Way (Manchester City Mix)

D2 Wild Party (Way Out West Mix)