Ratatat, LP4 review

5/5 stars.
release date: June 8, 2010.

I’m super excited that I get to pop this blog’s cherry with this flawless album right now. As you’ll learn, I pride myself in being able to critique music pretty seriously. Part of me gets a rush out of finding that one crappy song at the end of a record, just so I can be like, “AHA!” It’s similar to my adamant desire to be right all the time.

But the electronic Ratatat duo is returning with their fourth album on XL Recordings, very creatively and thought-provokingly titled LP4 (…the music makes up for the title, swear!), and I’ve searched through this entire album over and over with a fine-toothed comb and I must admit defeat. LP4, from the first few seconds of the first song, “Billar,” and it’s eery crescendo to the happily-ever-after decrescendo of “Alps” contains no goofs, no careless production, absolutely nothing I can complain about. In fact, it could actually be argued that as the record progresses, just when you’re thinking, “Wow, Ratatat has really outdone themselves. This is THE best song they’ve ever done,” the next song is even better than the last.

LP4 took its strong hands, placed them on my head and rattled my brain around like a puree machine until it sat in a puddle, somewhere in the bottom of my skull. I think I actually had to take a nap after the first listen.

favorites:
“Mahalo” – I don’t think a song without words has ever made me feel so much. This song takes you straight to a sandy Hawaiian beach at sunrise. Even if you’ve never been (I haven’t), the nostalgia is undeniable. The song is only a little over two minutes.
“Party with Children” – This song sounds like a party in some obscure country. And belly dancers.

xx K

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