(XL Recordings/Remote Control)

Third outing for NY electronic duo

For their third album, Evan Mast and Mike Stroud (aka Ratatat) decamped to the Catskills, where as well as their own arsenal of equipment, they chanced upon vintage keyboards, including a grand piano, mellotron, harpsichord and Wurlitzer. The final result is a record that takes in both vintage and modern keyboards, along with Mike Stroud’s robotic prog rock guitar. It feels a tad unfinished at first, like mere sketches of tunes as opposed to complete works. But as the record continues, it gradually makes more sense and you find yourself becoming used to its idiosyncratic brand of instrumental electronica. From Stroud playing Mike Oldfield licks over Latin-tinged percussion in Mumtaz Khan to the Atari disco bounce of Shempi to the Morricone dub of Flynn, LP3 possesses a kid-in-a-toy-store enthusiasm that is ultimately infectious. With repeated listenings, the rambling structures and offbeat arrangements unravel themselves, making LP3 an adventurous, playful and genuinely enjoyable record.

***˝

MATT THROWER

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