Ratatat is the Brooklyn electronic duo of Mike Stroud and Evan Mast, formed in 2001 — interlocking guitar lines over synth-heavy production, vocals almost never needed. Classics (2006) and LP3 (2008) are the classic entry points, and the XL pressings come in plenty of color variants. Find Ratatat vinyl, CDs, and reissues at Wax Trax Records.
Ratatat formed in Brooklyn, New York in 2001 around Mike Stroud (guitar, electronics) and Evan Mast (bass, electronics). They have been associated with the contemporary electronic indie and instrumental electronic scenes, with instrumental compositional approach (rare vocals across their catalog). They signed with XL Recordings (Beggars Banquet) and built international audiences across the mid-to-late 2000s. They have continued releasing material across multiple decades, though their last studio LP Magnifique was released in 2015.
Ratatat's sound combines electronic, indie electronic, instrumental rock, dance-rock, indie rock, electronic rock, and post-rock with distinctive interlocking dual guitar arrangements (Mike Stroud lead guitar work and Evan Mast bass and electronics), atmospheric synthesizer-driven production approaches, and varied compositional approaches drawing on classic 1970s instrumental rock alongside contemporary electronic and indie rock influences.
XL Recordings and Because Music pressings of the Ratatat catalog have been issued in multiple color variant editions and limited deluxe pressings.
Listeners new to Ratatat typically start with Classics (2006) or LP3 (2008).
