8/10

While New York-based production duo Ratatat were extremely prolific in their formative years, releasing four studio albums and two remix compilations between 2004 and 2010, their fourth album 'LP4' was the last that we heard of them until now. Aside from a production credit on Kid Cudi's 2012 album 'Indicud', 'Magnifique' is the first new material we have heard from the pair in more than five years, and from the off, it seems like they are back to their old tricks.

Having always had an fondness for the screeching guitar sounds of progressive rock, 'Magnifique' packs in the insatiable licks by the truckload and thus helps to both define and anchor the sound of this new record. While occasionally breaking away from their familiar sound to deliver a more electronic focus on some of the tracks, the album is a fluid and concise return to the band's heyday. Mixing electronic beats with a more analogue approach to songwriting has enabled them to deliver possibly one of the best records of their career.

Fans of their previous work will lap this up in a heartbeat. It shows both relevance to their origins as well as having a purposeful evolution throughout, making it both a fitting return and the start of something altogether new.