Ratatat

Ratatat is the duo of Evan Mast and Mike Stroud, who started making music together in 2001. Their early self-titled album and a remix collection came out a few years later, establishing their particular mix of electronic textures and guitar-driven melodies. The track 'Seventeen Years' from that first album gives a good sense of their sound from the start.

Their 2006 album 'Classics' brought them wider attention, with the single 'Wildcat' getting play beyond the usual electronic circles. The album's title turned out to be fitting, as songs from it have had a long shelf life. Around this time, they began collaborating with other artists, most notably on 'Pursuit Of Happiness (Nightmare)' with Kid Cudi and MGMT.

They've kept a steady pace since, releasing several more studio albums. Their music often feels cinematic, built from layered synthesizers, clean guitar lines, and propulsive rhythms. It's instrumental for the most part, which has let it work as both focused listening and a backdrop for everything from parties to film trailers.