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Sextet is the third album by English band A Certain Ratio, released in 1982 by record label Factory. It is the first album by the band not to be produced by Martin Hannett.

Sextet
Studio album by A Certain Ratio
Released	January 1982 (January 1982)
Studio	Revolution Studios, Cheadle Hulme, Cheshire
Genre	New wave[1] funk[2] dance[3][4] world music
Length	37:13
Label	Factory
Producer	A Certain Ratio
A Certain Ratio chronology
To Each... (1981) Sextet (1982) I'd Like to See You Again (1982)

The album spent eleven weeks in the UK Independent Chart, peaking at number 1.[5]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[3]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[6]
Pitchfork	8.1/10[4]
Stylus	A−[2]
Uncut	4/5[7]

The album generally received critical acclaim. Writing in Smash Hits on the album's release in January 1982, Dave Rimmer noted that the album featured "dense and gloomy pieces", suitable for "the bleak mid-winter". He gave the album an overall 6 out of 10.[8]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."[9] Stylus called the album "a masterpiece [...] a mesmerizing blend of ethnic rhythms and ghostly production that really sounds like nothing else."[2] 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."[10] Uncut magazine praised the record for its "taut, abrasive swagger," as well as its blend of funk and world music influences.[7] 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."[11]

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."[12] 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."[3]

Track listing

All tracks composed by A Certain Ratio

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.[13]

Chart positions

Album

Charts (1982)	Peak position
UK Albums Chart[14]	53

References

External links

• Sextet at Discogs (list of releases)

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