LP3 (2008)

RATATAT Electronic duo create instrumental beats that keep you hooked without a single word on LP3

Three albums into their career, it's increasingly unclear why Evan Mast and Mike Stroud of Ratatat aren't yet super-producers. This time on LP3, the instrumental duo layer an eclectic batch of sounds — Latin guitars and thumping tablas on ''Mi Viejo,'' shimmering chimes and squealing synths on ''Mumtaz Khan'' — into their most dazzling patterns yet. And while these beats keep you hooked without a single word, surely they'd sound phenomenal with the right vocals on top. Rappers, you're on notice: Anyone who doesn't, at the very least, yank one of these as the backing track for a mixtape freestyle is officially a fool. A
DOWNLOAD THIS: Listen to ''Mi Viejo'' on Last FM