Band of the Week: Ratatat

[February 23 - March 1]

Ratatat
Sounds Like: Electronic
Drinking Buddies: The Octopus Project, YACHT, MGMT

Synopsis: Instrumental break beats for the soul of a busy-body.

Makes You Want To...: Break it down; Cruise; Chill
[Myspace]

One week, one band. You know the drill.
This week, the featured artist is Ratatat.


Did you guys catch the Peachcake Podcast? Big events like that are always fun, especially when they're so sudden and surprising. Who expected Stefan Pruett to be gracing us with his impeccable music taste. And you've got to admit, if you like some nice, chilled music, José González is a great choice. But you know what I loved most about Peachcake's Podcast? It was the song "Blue Flowers" by Kool Keith. It set a great groove - the beat was quite "bumpin'" as the hip and trendy kids with their pants at their ankles, beatboxing on the streetcorner might say. I dig things with a good beat like that; something that flows well flows through me well; something that flows well helps me flow. Loosens up the bolts, as it were; lightens the load. When you've got a groove going, and a good beat, the world doesn't matter for however long that song/album might last. It's a lovely feeling to completely immerse yourself in a song, and feel your whole body moving independent of thought to the beat a'bumpin' out of the nearest speaker like the beating of your heart.

Am I getting to esoteric? Let's slow it down, G. Gee, G, let's slow it down; let's get a groove of our own going; let's get the bass up and bumpin'. I've got just the cup of tea for your musical relaxation prescription - something to sedate yet invigorate, you feel me? I'm talking about that gangsta lean type of groove - the holy hell, who cares how much gas costs, we're cruisin' round the block a few times (real slow like, for emphasis). I'm talkin' about that blast from the past - my Tommy gun don't believe you, but it certainly blast a sucka' if they don't step off. You know what happens when a fool gets blasted; last thing they hear is gonna be that rat-tat-tat.

But if the last thing you're hearing is Ratatat, I'd have to reckon you're doing pretty well off. This duo of instrumental aficionados hail from the busy-all-the-time town of New York City. They're all about gettin' you into the groove - these cats have got groove down to a science - these kids is the scientists of groove - Groovologists - you dig?

How does Ratatat craft such beat bumpin' beats? Only someone with a PHD in Groovology knows. But give these guys a guitar, keyboard, and something to play beats for them, and they'll be all over that like paper over rock. They drop the beat, and pluck around it with string-diggin' guitar plucking and ambient-esque keyboards. Want to mix it up? 'Cause they know how to drop it down with some live percussion too; these guys are Groovologists, remember? Do not attempt at home, reader, cause Ratatat are some major professionals.

But kids these days, they be forsakin' away at their mentors; not paying homage to their sensei - their mentors - you feel me? It's tragic, which is why Ratatat aims at learnin' these rude youngn's. You see, Ratatat throws down the beats of their fellow beat masters too with some remix albums; they remix the best in the biz: From Kanye to Hova, from T.I. to Ghostface Killa, from Method Man to Biggie Smalls. And Ratatat is as infamous as their entourage these days, you heard? They've be from LA to Okinawa with the likes of Daft Punk, !!!, Björk, Franz Ferdinand, and Mogwai just to name a few, and have remixed folks like Animal Collective, YACHT, and many more.

Where are these G's at now, you ask? They're gettin' ready the States at the end of March. That's one straight month of touring, but Ratatat are tough type; as soon as they get home to New York City, they're off for a tour of Asia, including stops in Australia, New Zealand, China, and Vietnam. Can't get much more extensive than that, eh? This is all of course after a long list of tour dates from 2008, when they were wanderin' 'bout in support of their latest album, LP3, which is available right now. Also available is their latest remix compilation, Ratatat Remixes Vol. 2, which you can download for free right off their website (or Myspace). Yeah, of course fool, Ratatat has a Myspace. They even have their remix of Björk's "Wanderlust" up for streaming. And if you're eager for somethin' eponymous, you should check out their debut LP and it's extremely wicked minimalism.

It's all about how you take it, reader, you feel me? Take it slow. Ride it with the windows down and the bass thumpin'. It's all about that symbolic biz, y'know? "Stop and smell the roses?" Except you're stoppin' in front of a speaker, and listening to the music. So listen up, you dig?




Ratatat "Cherry" from Audio Dregs Recordings on Vimeo.