Matthew Tsai
08/18/08, 11:54 PM
Ratatat - LP3
Record Label: XL Recordings
Release Date: July 8, 2008
Many times, a band's intricate musicianship is unfortunately buried by vociferous "vox," causing the listener to miss out on what is sometimes the real talent in the band. So when a group of musicians decide to omit the vocals and push instrumentation into the spotlight, it's almost always somewhat of a magical experience. Ratatat's third LP, LP3, is no exception. Combining electronic grooves with a tight and technical musical approach, LP3 is breathtaking and danceable at the same time.
"Shiller" is an eerie opener that gives an appropriate foreshadowing of what the rest of the record will sound like. It may also be one of the best tracks on the album, and it properly prepares the listener for the catchy and dancey "Falcon Jab," which features what Ratatat is known for: heavy electronic programming and undeniably cool (for lack of a better term to describe it) guitar distortion. The album overall, however, can be very diverse; LP3 seems to draw from music from different cultures, including hints of a Mexican flavor in "Shiller" and "Mi Viejo," and what can be considered a stereotypical Native American romp in "Mirando."
The middle chunk of LP3 seems to need more "getting into" than the opening and concluding segments, though infectious hip-movers like "Shempi" still manage to sneak their way out of the speakers. But just because a track takes more time to grow on listeners does not mean it's not good by any means. The atmospheric, ambient "Imperials" scores on the list of the very best from LP3 and "Bird-Priest" is nearly Nujabes-esque in instrumentation (Nujabes = solid).
Ratatat does not hesitate to hide their playful side in the bright innocence of "Bruleé," which may make listeners want to open and close their hands (motions used in singing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" with children) when the xylophone emulations strike. LP3 closes with "Black Heroes," a little video game music-channeling ditty and when the silence settles in, listeners are left with a taste of awe in their mouths.
If there's one problem LP3 suffers from, it's the occasional lack of interest one might suffer from while listening to the album. Electronic instrumentation used as heavily as by Ratatat is more likely than not an aberration from the daily musical norm and often times, it does take an acquired taste to enjoy it. Ratatat is a band primarily intended for dancey fun, not for meaningful listening. Post-rock enthusiasts know, however, that some of the most moving (in more ways than one) music lie in genres that tend to take a backseat or minimal role in something visual. While this record clearly doesn't stick to the post-rock formula, it also operates like post-rock. In this respect, LP3 is worth noting as an exceptional release.
Daft Punk; Ratatat's Classics; highly danceable electronica
myspace.com/ratatatmusic (http://www.myspace.com/ratatatmusic)
Record Label: XL Recordings
Release Date: July 8, 2008
Many times, a band's intricate musicianship is unfortunately buried by vociferous "vox," causing the listener to miss out on what is sometimes the real talent in the band. So when a group of musicians decide to omit the vocals and push instrumentation into the spotlight, it's almost always somewhat of a magical experience. Ratatat's third LP, LP3, is no exception. Combining electronic grooves with a tight and technical musical approach, LP3 is breathtaking and danceable at the same time.
"Shiller" is an eerie opener that gives an appropriate foreshadowing of what the rest of the record will sound like. It may also be one of the best tracks on the album, and it properly prepares the listener for the catchy and dancey "Falcon Jab," which features what Ratatat is known for: heavy electronic programming and undeniably cool (for lack of a better term to describe it) guitar distortion. The album overall, however, can be very diverse; LP3 seems to draw from music from different cultures, including hints of a Mexican flavor in "Shiller" and "Mi Viejo," and what can be considered a stereotypical Native American romp in "Mirando."
The middle chunk of LP3 seems to need more "getting into" than the opening and concluding segments, though infectious hip-movers like "Shempi" still manage to sneak their way out of the speakers. But just because a track takes more time to grow on listeners does not mean it's not good by any means. The atmospheric, ambient "Imperials" scores on the list of the very best from LP3 and "Bird-Priest" is nearly Nujabes-esque in instrumentation (Nujabes = solid).
Ratatat does not hesitate to hide their playful side in the bright innocence of "Bruleé," which may make listeners want to open and close their hands (motions used in singing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" with children) when the xylophone emulations strike. LP3 closes with "Black Heroes," a little video game music-channeling ditty and when the silence settles in, listeners are left with a taste of awe in their mouths.
If there's one problem LP3 suffers from, it's the occasional lack of interest one might suffer from while listening to the album. Electronic instrumentation used as heavily as by Ratatat is more likely than not an aberration from the daily musical norm and often times, it does take an acquired taste to enjoy it. Ratatat is a band primarily intended for dancey fun, not for meaningful listening. Post-rock enthusiasts know, however, that some of the most moving (in more ways than one) music lie in genres that tend to take a backseat or minimal role in something visual. While this record clearly doesn't stick to the post-rock formula, it also operates like post-rock. In this respect, LP3 is worth noting as an exceptional release.
Daft Punk; Ratatat's Classics; highly danceable electronica
myspace.com/ratatatmusic (http://www.myspace.com/ratatatmusic)