I had only vaguely heard of Ratatat in the past. I knew they were some sort of electronic outfit but that was all. I picked up this album on a whim, hoping to hear something similar to Feadz or Boys Noize. What I got was that and a whole lot more.
When the album first started I felt overwhelmed. The unique concoction of distorted guitars, Latin percussions, orchestral swells, and electronic trickery felt a bit too chaotic. But as time went on I felt myself being eased into the songs. As each riff was played again and again I noticed something new each time, a trumpet echoing in the distance, arpeggiating synths humming in the background, or small clicks and clacks that cause me to imagine little beetles scattering across a lush forest floor. The electronic guitar is the one constant throughout the album. He is your guide through this strange and enchanting world. The guitar most often performs the leads while the samples and synths form the backbone of the songs. This is a strong choice because it allows you to truly enjoy the beautiful melodies while indirectly soaking in the more unique sounds on the album. That is one problem I often have with electronic albums, the instruments (synthesizers, samples) often sound so bizarre and alien that to have them playing more involved melodies would rob the listener of their ability to truly marvel at their complexities. But Ratatat have sidestepped this problem with their novel use of the distorted guitar.
The greatest achievement Ratatat have reached on this album is the melding of hip hop and dance music's production virtuosity with progressive rock's more exciting and less repetitive song structures. These aren't your typical hip hop "beats". None of the melodic lines ever outstay their welcome, but they remain long enough to allow the listener to soak in their intricacies. Ratatat has created the type of music that will make women flock to the dance floor while nerds, such as myself, can sit and watch without having to hear the same 8 bars on a loop for 4 minutes.
This album will most likely garner comparison to dance outfits like Daft Punk and prolific hip hop producers such as Daedelus and DJ Shadow. While this comparison is warranted this album really reminds me of some of the less melancholy progressive rock groups from the 70s, especially Camel. More specifically, I can't break the association in my mind between LP4 and Camel's instrumental album The Snow Goose. This and that album (a classic by the way) both feature a sort of lighthearted dramatic journey. The melodies can get dark from time to time but only long enough to allow you to appreciate the sunshine that came before it and will soon follow. Both albums also feature certain melodic lines that snake their way in and out of the album making themselves known several times in several different songs. This makes the two albums as a whole, seem more cohesive. It's almost like one long movement rather than a collection of individual tracks.
Despite all these things this album does have a few flaws. The production is extremely clean, almost sounding clinical at times. The tracks all sound just a little thin, especially for songs with so much going on. As complicated and crowded as the music is it never feels as all encompassing or as purely aurally dominating as classic albums from Animal Collective or The Avalanches, of which I'm assuming these musicians are fans. This could just be a matter of taste. Perhaps Ratatat were going for a more minimal sound but moments such as 1:33 into Bob Gandhi where the song leaps forward from a meandering acoustic stroll into a full-on electric gait could have a much greater impact with a more deeply layered sound. However, this is a minor complaint. For me the compositions should always take precedence over the production, and these compositions are certainly top notch.
There are certain songs that sound inviting to me, familiar in a way which is both touching and comforting. Being somewhat of a layman when it comes to musicianship, it's hard to pinpoint exactly what it is. I'm certain it's in the melodies, for this feeling can come over me regardless of the instrumentation, tempo, or timbre of the sounds. Whatever the case, this album gives me that feeling. For any number of reasons I... relate to this album. This mixture of lighthearted dreariness, cutesy exuberance, and clumsy euphoria reminds me of myself and the life I've had. So I may be somewhat biased in my review. That is not to take anything away from Ratatat. The compositional skill and production wizardry they've shown on this album is astounding. But it is my belief that the melodies you relate to are uniquely yours. They were formed on late nights spent watching old movies and unknowingly absorbing the soundtrack into your subconscious and early mornings hearing the theme to your favorite cartoon in the background while you got ready for school. I can undoubtedly say this is a fantastic album, whether or not it comforts you the way it has me is impossible to tell. What I know for sure is that you will hear something unique and well crafted when you purchase this album. There is no way in hell that this exact combination of sounds has ever or will ever be replicated, that is part of the beauty of electronic and sampled music, and is a lot more than I can say for many mainstream artists. This music is genuine and heartfelt in a way that is very charming.
I give this album a 9 out of 10.
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