The angular, bass-heavy
post-punk
of
A Certain Ratio
could conceivably be compared to that of their
Factory
labelmates
Joy Division
(singer
Simon Topping
is a dead ringer vocally for
's
Ian Curtis
). One key difference is that
has a more pronounced
funk
influence, which makes their music more danceable. Another difference is that
Topping
's lyrics, more abstract and even humorous (albeit in a dark, quirky way) are less dramatic than
Curtis
'.
The Graveyard and the Ballroom
, compiled from a collection of early four-track recordings and a set of live tracks, shows off
's strengths well. The sound is surprisingly good for such lo-fi recordings, and the band is, for all of their musical amateurishness, rather precise and controlled. Unfortunately, that highlights a key flaw of the album: Too often, it is accomplished enough to be intriguing, but never all that gripping. By emphasizing rhythm over melody,
makes music that is interesting and danceable, but not hugely compelling. It's mechanically well-played, with quirky, interesting lyrics that never really seem to add up to anything more than an attention-grabbing sound. Nonetheless, those seeking an idiosyncratic, interesting
art-funk
band can do no wrong with this release, even if it ultimately falls short of any meaning beyond quirky experimentalism. ~ Victor W. Valdivia