Ratatat - LP3

RATATAT
LP3
As album titles go, the explanatory LP3 seems to lack inspiration, especially after the Brooklyn duo rather cheekily titled their previous album Classics. However, it seems that Mike Stroud and Evan Mast were far from uninspired when penning their third offering of instrumental electronica, as its 13 tracks are eclectic in their sounds and influences. Opener Shiller eases you in with delicate keys, Shempi has pop heavy hooks and Mirando offers guitar riffage, Latino beats and computer game bleeps.

There is a lot going on here but despite every track being crammed full of ideas, the album also has a laid-back feel to it. Perhaps this more chilled vibe is because the duo’s melodic yet distorted and strangely beautiful sound has moved slightly away from the synthy-guitar of their last two records and veered even further towards the electronic side of things.

However, although LP3 is clearly impressive and has certainly been painstakingly and lovingly constructed, there is also something that seems to be missing. Quite simply, their sound sometimes absolutely aches for a vocal to sit atop it. Indeed, it is no coincidence that the strongest track on the album is the Daft Punk-esque Falcon Jab, which offers the closest thing to a vocal you’ll find here. Elsewhere though, pretty though it is, there isn’t really anything attention-grabbing enough to make you want to regularly revisit what is initially a pleasing and interesting listen. Therefore this long-player amounts to little more than background music. Very good background music, but background music nonetheless.