Ratgrave sounds like the intersection of a dusty record bin and a malfunctioning spaceship. It is funk music stripped of its gloss and replaced with a thick layer of analog grime, where every bassline feels slightly loose and every synth lead wobbles with a charming, tape-saturated instability. The music breathes with a human imperfection that is rare in electronic production, favoring the 'slacker' aesthetic of early 2010s beat-making while maintaining a deep, sophisticated knowledge of jazz harmony.
What makes them truly distinctive is their refusal to settle into a standard groove. While the foundation is undeniably funky, the duo of Max Graef and Julius Conrad constantly subverts expectations with sudden rhythmic shifts, weirdly textured interludes, and a 'wonky' approach to timing that feels like the music is stumbling forward in the best way possible. It is the sound of two master musicians playing with toys, prioritizing the tactile feel of their instruments over digital perfection.
Start with their self-titled 2018 debut if you want to experience the core of their 'P-funk through a lo-fi filter' sound. It is an essential listen for anyone who enjoys the gritty textures of the Berlin electronic scene but wants something with a more organic, instrumental soul. It works equally well as a deep-listening experience or as a sophisticated background for a late-night creative session.
Shares funk, downtempo, nu jazz (subgenres); playful, restless, mysterious (moods)
Shares absent, processed, spoken word (vocal style); lo fi, analog warmth, tape saturation (production style)
Shares funk, downtempo, nu jazz (subgenres); urban night, basement show, late night (atmosphere)
Shares downtempo, funk, synth-pop (subgenres); urban night, basement show, late night (atmosphere)
Shares nu jazz, downtempo, funk (subgenres); absent, processed, spoken word (vocal style)
Shares playful, restless, mysterious (moods); absent, processed, spoken word (vocal style)
Shares lo fi, analog warmth, tape saturation (production style); absent, processed, spoken word (vocal style)
Shares absent, processed, spoken word (vocal style); urban night, basement show, late night (atmosphere)
Shares funk, downtempo, synth-pop (subgenres); absent, processed (vocal style)
Shares urban night, basement show, late night (atmosphere); absent, processed, spoken word (vocal style)
Shares playful, funk, nu jazz, spoken word (signature)
Shares tape saturation, funk, synth-pop, downtempo (signature)
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