Ratatat

“Mi Viejo,” by Ratatat, from LP3 (XL):

Maybe it’s just the shrieking-panther samples, but listening to Ratatat can make you feel like you’re creeping through a jungle where a dance party is about to pounce. The group’s exotic mash-up of rump-shaking beats, autoharp, video-game blurts and dual-lead-guitar shredding is instantly recognizable and distinctly awesome. The absence of vocals can be a letdown at first, but this is music built for dancing, or at least hazardous head-nodding. Who the hell else can boast dope remixes of both Animal Collective and Young Jeezy? Rumor is these guys are being courted by the Neptunes’ Star Trak Entertainment label. Catch ’em now before they blow up like Lil Wayne.