Ratatat - LP3

Ratatat have honed their signature crunching sound over two albums and two sets of remixes, so with the release of the imaginatively titled LP3, where do they stand? Their signature sounds remain, with swooping guitar riffs matched up against a crunching combination of electro and hip-hop beats, but this time around the palette of sounds is greatly increased. Opener Shiller sees as a delicate 3/4 synth line overwhelmed by dancing guitar riffs, while Falcon Jab is a delectable slice of vocodered 80s pop. Tracks like Bird Priest and the dreamy Flynn show the group’s experimentation with pianos, as they briefly set aside the beats that brought them their fame. Dura evokes the same haunting feeling as watching a Dario Argento film, while at the album’s close, Mumtaz Khan and Gipsy Threat are as exotic as their titles suggest. This experimentation will most definitely impress listeners, as it shows a band eagerly exploring new territory. Where they go next is anyone’s guess, but no doubt they’ll have a lot of fans come along for the ride.