An open thank you to Ratatat

A labored explanation of what one of your songs means to me

Dear Ratatat,

I want to publicly thank you for the music you make. I’m not sure you’ve written a song I don’t like, but this is about one particular song with special significance to me.

Abrasive, from your latest album “Magnifique” is, if such a designation has any meaning, my favorite song. It has kept me going during hard times, a particularly impressive feat for 4:16 minutes of instrumental electronics, not to denigrate the bulk of your genre. But as a writer, I find a certain magic in those who can speak to someone so intimately without the use of words. It’s something I’ve never been able to do. I consider myself talented with words but with apologies, I’m going to struggle to use them to explain the personal meaning I find in this song. Bear with me. Music has never been my forte.

Listening to Abrasive, I’m confronted with the feeling that it’s trying to explain something. Its opening fuzzy minor chords seemingly acknowledge the dull pain that comes…