To sum up what has been covered, the album is a solid listen, still sounds like Ratatat, a little lighter in mood, and maybe even a little silly. I could go on but there’s a subtly in their musicality that can’t really be put into words. “Drift” reminds me of a lackadaisical summer afternoon, or an early episode of Spongebob either being a pleasant image. The most feel-good track is indeed “Abrasive,” which resurrects a motive behind what I feel comes from their first self-titled album, spouted out into 2015 like a freshly drawn cartoon, which was visualized in the video for the track. This idea resonates everywhere in the album, sprinkled around steady garage drum styles and of course complete lack of vocals. The melancholic vibe has been suspended immediately as you enter on the first track “Intro,” featuring a playful piano reminiscent of a harpsichord, light minor chords and the smooth iconic tinge of electric guitars harmonizing some riff to fill the gaps. What is different is the tone of the album. If you anticipated an LP5 that’ll make you want to roll down the windows and turn up the bass a little, don’t think any further, because you won’t get that.
Their’s a certain nostalgia imbued in hearing something a little different from the group that most 8th graders thought were the greatest thing since Led Zeppelin, while still being able to appreciate that distinctive Ratatat sound. The approach the duo have on their latest work is interesting to say the least. That isn’t trying to undermine the spirit of the album, however. Scrap the afro beat keep the slide guitar soften the synths, and keep the slide guitar again, and you now have an idea of Magnifique. The alt rock & electronica fusion of Ratatat, comprised of Evan Mast and Mike Stroud, isn’t so much electronic anymore. Well, Ratatat is now that “new,” but how new is it? Five years is a long time to let something fester and evolve, but honestly, by the sounds included on Magnifique, don’t call it a comeback.
The underground scene has a propensity to enjoy something for a good bit then set it aside until something else comes along, only to pick it back up once its considered “new” again.
I’m talking David Bowie, Bjork, or even Cher! Brooklyn based indie-electro duo Ratatat are back off of hiatus and instead of music video with Danica Patrick they’ve brought the world their (relatively) originally titled 5th album, Magnifique. Only a few artists have pulled off a successful comeback, and I’m not talking about Jay-Z’s comeback either (which wasn’t successful regardless of how much you loved “Show Me What You Got”). By any measure of contemporary music, that is considered a while to be on hiatus. It’s been a minute, five years to be exact, since Ratatat’s last album, 2010’s innovatively titled LP4.
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