Highly recommended. Double CD for the price of one, the "definitive anthology of ACR recordings from 1978-85." Well-packaged per the Soul Jazz standard, with a 36-page booklet of historical photos and a long interview with the band. "A Certain Ratio were the first group (alongside Joy Division) to sign to Manchester's infamous Factory Records in 1978, future home of New Order, Happy Mondays. As purveyors of dance music in the aftermath of punk, A Certain Ratio led the field. After punk, a new set of groups emerged who wanted to mix dance music -- funk, soul, reggae, disco with the spirit of punk: Groups such as A Certain Ratio, Cabaret Voltaire, 23 Skidoo and The Pop Group were the first UK groups to bring dance music into their sound. In New York's dance clubs ACR's 'Shack Up' became an underground dance hit in places like Paradise Garage and The Roxy, leading to them playing live in New York's danceteria with seminal New York group ESG and their first album being recorded in New Jersey mixed by legendary Factory producer Martin Hannett. When Factory opened their new nightclub, The Hacienda, ACR played at the opening night along with ESG. A Certain Ratio were a band ahead of their time mixing dance music with punk spirit."