''LP4'' is the fourth studio album by
Ratatat
Ratatat ( ) is a Brooklyn-based electronic rock duo consisting of Mike Stroud (guitar, melodica, synthesizers, percussion) and producer Evan Mast ( bass, synthesizers, percussion).
History
Beginnings and first album, ''Ratatat'' (2001–200 ...
, released on June 8, 2010. The name comes from the acronym for
long play
The LP (from "long playing" or "long play") is an analog sound storage medium, a phonograph record format characterized by: a speed of rpm; a 12- or 10-inch (30- or 25-cm) diameter; use of the "microgroove" groove specification; and a ...
(LP), as it is their fourth album. It is similarly titled to their third release, ''
LP3''. A majority of the tracks are from the same studio session as their previous album.
Background
The album largely features material produced during the session of Ratatat's previous album ''LP3'', recorded at Old Soul Studios in
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
.
of the duo stated, "A lot of the sounds and palettes are similar, but I think the songs change pretty drastically." Ratatat had purchased several
Middle East
The Middle East ( ar, الشرق الأوسط, ISO 233: ) is a geopolitical region commonly encompassing Arabian Peninsula, Arabia (including the Arabian Peninsula and Bahrain), Anatolia, Asia Minor (Asian part of Turkey except Hatay Pro ...
ern percussion instruments, which are featured in ''LP4''. The album also features a string quartet, whereas previous Ratatat albums had used a
Mellotron
The Mellotron is an electro-mechanical musical instrument developed in Birmingham, England, in 1963. It is played by pressing its keys, each of which pushes a length of magnetic tape against a capstan, which pulls it across a playback head. A ...
. The string sections were recorded at Glassworks Studios in
Manhattan
Manhattan (), known regionally as the City, is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the five boroughs of New York City. The borough is also coextensive with New York County, one of the original counties of the U.S. state ...
.
[RATATAT LP4 out THIS WEEK on XL Recordings](_blank)
Music videos were produced for the tracks "Drugs", "Mahalo" "Neckbrace", and "Party With Children".
The album contains numerous spoken word samples, including a line from Werner Herzog's 1977 film
Stroszek
''Stroszek'' is a 1977 German tragicomedy film directed by Werner Herzog and starring Bruno S., Eva Mattes, and Clemens Scheitz. Written specifically for Bruno S., the film was shot in Plainfield, Wisconsin, and North Carolina. Most of the lead ...
segueing "Bilar" and "Drugs".
Reception
The album debuted on the
''Billboard'' 200 at #66 selling 6,700 copies in its first week.
Track listing
#"Bilar" – 4:14
#"Drugs" – 4:55
#"Neckbrace" – 4:06
#"We Can't Be Stopped" – 2:10
#"Bob Gandhi" – 4:01
#"Mandy" – 3:42
#"Mahalo" – 2:02
#"Party with Children" – 2:58
#"Sunblocks" – 3:42
#"Bare Feast" – 2:38
#"Grape Juice City" – 3:56
#"Alps" – 4:21
;iTunes pre-order bonus track
#
"Biddang" – 3:21
Chart positions
Weekly
Year-end
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lp4
Ratatat albums
2010 albums
XL Recordings albums
Albums produced by E*vax