In 2004, Mast and Stroud quietly entered the world of rap with a self-released album titled "Ratatat Remixes Mixtape Vol. 1." This pseudo-follow-up to their eponymous debut may have seemed out of place, but when the elements were separated out, it made sense. The instrumental tracks on "Ratatat" definitely had a hip-hop vibe, Stroud and Mast know their way around good rap tracks and the two guitar players weren't afraid to push the edge of the envelope.
By most accounts, however, Volume 1 fell short. Although a few tracks on the album stood out, namely the remixes of Dizzee Rascal's "Fix Up" and Ghostface Killah and Jadakiss's "Run," the record as a whole was lacking. Songs appeared to be no more than extracted vocals laid over bare instrumental tracks, with little cohesion between the two units. It lacked the originality of Ratatat's brilliant debut and often made two pros look like amateurs.
After a step back from the rap world, during which Ratatat recorded their equally impressive sophomore album, "Classics," Stroud and Mast are back on the scene with "Ratatat Remixes Vol. 2." Bigger, bolder and more polished, they have evolved, showing an increased understanding of both their own music and the rhymes it supports. Ratatat has learned from past mistakes. Beats interact with verses. Raps build and pulse as the guitars throb in the background. Almost every song hits harder and better than any track from "Remixes Vol. 1."
From the start, "Remixes Vol. 2" shows a change in style, focusing more on lyrics than melodies in the opener "Stomp". The instrumentation takes a step back as Ludacris, T.I. and Young buck drop their knowledge, swelling to fill break-beats between verses instead of overpowering the lyricists. Instead of relying solely on guitars and drums to create big pops during songs, Ratatat recognizes vocals as a new instrument, using them in perfect conjunction with their own tools to create cohesive tracks. Nowhere is this clearer than on album highlights "Alright," "Three Kings" and "Dead Wrong."
Another improvement over Vol. 1 is the simple selection of tracks by Stroud and Mast. Relaxed rhymes by the likes of Missy Elliot, Lox and G-Unit have been replaced by explosive verses from powerhouses Biggie Smalls, Slim Thug and Memphis Bleek, creating a more up-tempo feel across the entire album. Instead of the peaks and valleys heard on Volume 1, "Remixes Volume 2" is a pump-up thrill ride throughout.
The album has its misguided points, however, and the boys of Ratatat haven't completely learned their lesson. Both freestyle tracks, one by Despot and the other by Beans, fall woefully short, with weak beats and lackluster rhymes. Other tracks, like the remix of Kanye West's "Diamonds," just don't click the way the rest of the album does.
Still, "Remixes Vol. 2" represents a huge step forward for Stroud and Mast. The album shows more forethought and production time than Ratatat's first remix attempts, with tangible results.
In a peek inside Ratatat's creative process, a demo CD known by fans as "9 Beats" was leaked on the Internet in late 2006. The album contained, coincidentally enough, nine beats, each clocking in somewhere around two minutes. Although these beats were largely considered the skeleton of a new album, few fans predicted that five of the nine tracks would be utilized, or at least very closely mimicked, on "Remixes Vol. 2." That is the case, showing that this largely word-of-mouth release has been in the planning stages for almost half a year.
For now, it remains to be seen how "Remixes Vol. 2" will be received. At the moment it is only available at live Ratatat shows, for the low price of $5, although an entrepreneurial soul is currently reselling his copy for $50 on eBay. The disc is definitely worth the $5, although if you can't make it to a show, a couple tracks are available from the band's website. Hopefully the boys will decide to release it on a larger scale, drawing the attention it deserves.
Ratatat clearly has a ways to go before the group has the name recognition of The Neptunes or Timbaland. But there is no doubt left by "Remixes Vol. 2" that they have a style as unique and interesting as the best producers currently in the game. If "Remixes Vol. 2" sparks as much evolution and development as Volume 1 did, Volume 3 should be unstoppable.
