The Manchester scene that revolved around Factory Records didn’t completely spin apart after the label’s demise. New Order found their way to Mute Artists, replacing Depeche Mode as a marquee act, while A Certain Ratio took up their position as a respected but less commercial label-mate.
That assessment of ACR might be a little unfair, as this new release shows.
“Houses in Motion” is taken from a Martin Hannett recording session that was intended to draw in Grace Jones. In the end, the Amazonian goddess didn’t add her vocals, so the track was left on the shelf.
Unearthed from the archive, dusted off and reworked, it turns out to be a missing gem. It’s funky fun for all modern slaves to the rhythm.