Number - Amber (inc. A Certain Ratio Remix)

'Amber' is Number’s second release taken from the duo’s new LP 'Pollinate', released via Ramrock Red Records. It’s a spacious, electro-funk, 1980’s inspired positive statement from the band with Ali Friend’s robustly soulful bassline intro leading you into an exquisitely packaged track, with his enigmatic vocals floating over Rich Thair’s multi layered musical delights of drums and keyboards. With their roots firmly in ‘chugging’ house music, the track’s initial beats and keys were put together by Rich after listening to a lot of ALFOS DJ Sean Johnston’s mixes. Adopting the classic Number elements of burbling synths, slap-bass, chinking disco guitars, slow disco beat, an uplifting song and groove of expansive proportions was born, flexing like emerging life itself. The subtle air of melancholy around the song’s chord progression and ghostly synths only makes it a more real, dynamic and living track. It oozes life, fertility and growth. The lyrics are inspired by the band’s love of the natural world, and especially by the novel ‘The Overstory’ by Richard Powers, a visionary and heady tale in which trees and plant life are given as much of a voice as the human characters.

At a time when all around seems to be destruction, it seems right to nominate growth, pollination, the power of nature, and hope these might exalt a reaction in us leading to the heavenly. The words were written in Ali’s studio, which is itself buried in burgeoning overgrown plant life. ‘Amber’ is a reminder for us to sometimes look outside of our immediate world for inspiration and guidance. Plant life and trees communicate and flourish in community – so might we.

‘Amber’ is given a satisfyingly chunky remix by iconic UK collective, A Certain Ratio, turning it into a chugging masterpiece that Mr Weatherall would've had on heavy rotation. With Ali Friend's ethereal vocals sitting on top of Rich Thair's solid backbeat delivered with metronomic alacrity, interspersed with sound effects that have their roots firmly pointing towards the BBC Radio Workshop, this remix is destined for the most discerning of dancefloors and primetime radio airplay.

Rich Thair says, "having grown up listening to A Certain Ratio and watching them live it was a great honour when Martin Moscrop told us how much he liked our music. Our first collaboration was A Certain Ratio Rework of Number’s ‘Wedge’ which was included on our 2020 album ‘Binary’ released on Sunday Best Records. Number went on to rework ACR’s ‘Taxi Guy’ which was released by Mute in 2021."

A word from ACR:
“We chose Amber to rework because it had a strong vocal and we felt that it had really good musical parts that we could jam to and make it another great ACR:NUMBER collaboration. We added the influences that we are best at: Funk, Brazilian rhythms, Dub and ethereal space and combined those with the great musical elements that Rich and Ali had produced to create something that had ACR influences while keeping the integrity of the original. We are made up to be part of the Number family once more”.

Also included is album track 'Stonechat', a favourite with Rich & Ali.

Number - 'Amber' is out now, and the A Certain Ratio Remix is out on the 16th of January, both via Ramrock Red Records.