Ratfink!’s WHEN U WERE MINE arrives with the kind of backstory that already tells you how it’s going to sound: imperfect, intimate, slightly chaotic, and proudly human. Recorded with minimal gear and maximum intent, the album doesn’t try to disguise its DIY origins. Instead, it leans into them, letting texture, timing, and emotion do most of the talking. Framed within the alternative pop spectrum, the record constantly shifts its footing, borrowing from rock ’n’ roll immediacy, R&B elasticity, and dream pop softness without ever settling too comfortably in one place.
The rhythmic approach across WHEN U WERE MINE is deliberately loose. Beats rarely feel locked to a grid; they breathe, sway, and sometimes stumble in a way that mirrors the everyday narratives the duo explore. There’s a casual push-and-pull between programmed drums and more organic rhythmic ideas, often giving tracks a lived-in quality rather than a polished one. Tempos fluctuate subtly, not as a technical flourish but as a byproduct of performances that prioritize feeling over precision. This rhythmic elasticity becomes one of the album’s quiet signatures, reinforcing the sense that these songs were built in real time, in real rooms.
Synth work plays a central role in shaping the album’s atmosphere, though it’s rarely flashy. Instead of dominating the mix, synth lines tend to hover, blur, or pulse gently in the background. Many sounds feel slightly worn around the edges, as if filtered through memory rather than software. Pads swell and recede, simple melodic phrases repeat just long enough to sink in, and occasional lo-fi artifacts are left intact. Rather than distracting, these elements add character, reinforcing the emotional grain of the songs. The synths often act as emotional glue, tying together tracks that move stylistically from rock-inflected pop to mellow, late-night dream pop.
Vocally, the shared duties between Liv and Raph give the album a conversational tone. Voices overlap, alternate, and sometimes sit uncomfortably close in the mix, which suits the subject matter. Lyrics revolve around friendships, relationships, identity, and the slow process of understanding oneself within a broader world. There’s an unforced honesty to the delivery, with moments that feel almost tossed off sitting next to lines that quietly linger. The lack of vocal overproduction keeps the focus on phrasing and emotion, allowing small imperfections to carry meaning.
Atmospherically, WHEN U WERE MINE feels like a snapshot of shared spaces and shared time. There’s a domestic quality to the record, a sense of songs being written and recorded where life is actively happening around them. That atmosphere never turns claustrophobic, though. Thanks in part to Liv’s presence, there’s a sweetness that softens the rougher edges, balancing introspection with warmth. Even when themes touch on uncertainty or vulnerability, the overall mood remains open rather than heavy.
The previously released singles, including “About Ya,” “Gay Song,” and “Plastic Bits,” serve as effective entry points, but within the album they gain additional context. Surrounded by deeper cuts, they feel less like standalone statements and more like chapters in a wider narrative. The sequencing allows moods to ebb and flow naturally, avoiding dramatic peaks in favor of steady emotional continuity.
Ultimately, WHEN U WERE MINE stands as a confident example of how DIY music can sound when limitations are treated as creative tools rather than obstacles. It doesn’t chase trends or over-explain itself. Instead, it trusts small details, shared voices, and a carefully unpolished sound to carry its weight. The result is an alternative pop album with personality, warmth, and a clear sense of place—one that feels genuinely earned, and one we’re genuinely pleased to host and explore within our pages.