Suicide’s groundbreaking debut album will be given the Art of the Album treatment and reissued on red vinyl, CD and digitally on July 12 via Mute / BMG.

The Art of the Album series aims to give listeners the authoritative release of classic albums. With no extra tracks to distract or bulk up the reissue, the album itself is given the spotlight and for this release, Alan Vega and Martin Rev’s eponymous debut has been remastered and is presented with exclusive photographs and extensive sleeve notes by The Quietus’ John Doran detailing the album’s context, craft and legacy with interviews with many of the players.

‘Ghost Rider’ “takes the American myth of the freedom of the open road and turns it into something mechanically cold and strange.” (The Quietus), with a title inspired by Marvel’s Ghost Rider (and Alan Vega’s love of comic books), Martin explains on the sleeve notes that the track itself was influenced by glam rock.

Originally released in 1977 on the Red Star label, the band were given barely any credit at the time but since it was unleashed into the world, its influence has been incalculable - numerous magazines have included it in their Greatest Albums lists, and the volume of bands they went on to inspire throughout the decades is huge. New Order, Depeche Mode, Bruce Springsteen, Moby, Soft Cell, The Jesus & Mary Chain, Primal Scream and Nick Cave are just a few who have acknowledged their debt to the duo.

{youtube]https://youtu.be/Qn0_fDjvI_s{/youtube}

 

 

 

A Certain Ratio, who celebrate their 40th anniversary this year, have shared ‘Houses In Motion’, an unreleased track taken from the new box set, ACR:BOX, out on Mute on May 3. This unreleased version is reworked from original tapes, recorded in 1980 with Martin Hannett. The track, a Talking Heads cover, was intended as a collaboration with Grace Jones. Although Jones attended a session with the band at Strawberry Studios in Stockport, her vocals were never completed and the vocal on this version (recorded by Jez Kerr, prior to him becoming the band’s singer) was only ever intended as a guide vocal.

 

Jez Kerr continues, "It was great to find this lost track and, even though the original idea was for Grace Jones to sing on it, I think this version captures the essence of ACR at their best – when we are being ACR and sounding like no one else."

 

The band have announced an extensive UK tour kicking off on 27 April when they’ll bring their blistering live performance to Barrow-in-Furness, before a show at London’s Islington Assembly Hall on May 4. The band have also announced a 2-day ACR festival at Yes, in Manchester, on May 24 (the anniversary of the actual release date of the original ‘All Night Party’ 7”) and May 25 with live sets from Section 25, Sink Ya Teeth, Gabe Gurnsey, ShadowParty and Eric Random joining DJs Daniel Miller, The Other Two (Stephen Morris and Gillian Gilbert), Jon Dasilva, The Orielles and more for a takeover of all four floors of the venue. A Certain Ratio play three sets over the two nights, including a very special set with guests including past band members for a performance on Saturday May 25.

 

ACR:BOX was remastered by Martin Moscrop at Abbey Road studios. Featuring over 20 unreleased tracks, the box set will be available as a 7 x coloured vinyl set, 4 x CD set and digitally and its release will coincide with a series of dates.

 

 

A CERTAIN RATIO – LIVE

 

27 April – Barrow-in-Furness, Barrow Underground Music Society

 

4 May – London, Islington Assembly Hall

 

10 May – Wolverhampton, Newhampton Arts Centre

 

11 May – Belfast, Cathedral Quarter Festival

 

23 May – Liverpool, Phase One

 

24 May - Manchester, Yes ACR TAKEOVER

 

25 May – Manchester, Yes ACR TAKEOVER

 

30 May – Sheffield, The Leadmill (Steel Bar)

 

31 May – Newcastle, Riverside

 

1 June – Edinburgh, The Voodoo Rooms

 

2 June - Leamington Spa, Zephr Lounge

 

16 Aug – We Out Here Festival

 

17 Aug – Green Man Festival

 

18 Aug – County Durham, Hardwick Live Festival

 

2 Nov – Dublin, The Sugar Club

 

8 Nov – Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach

 

9 Nov – Birmingham, The Crossing

 

15 Nov – Stoke-on-Trent, The Sugarmill

 

16 Nov – Glasgow, King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut

 

17 Nov – Huddersfield, The Parish

 

6 Dec – Stockton on Tees, The Georgian Theatre

 

7 Dec – Nottingham, Rescue Rooms