Fat Freddy’s Drop come up from down under

What do you get when seven Kiwis make a record? Something as funky, warm, and pulsating as Fat Freddy’s Drop. The New Zealand band has been making an impression on some US tastemakers for a minute, and now it’s time for their second studio album to get a US release. If you haven’t heard “Big BW,” you must listen to it on their Space. With a silk-smooth tenor, oven-hot horns, and a rhythm section that teeters on the edge of the pocket, it’s a tripped-out electro-soul heaven. While the group could be pegged as funk/soul collective akin to many others, the sourcing of their influences is different by virtue of their provenance. New Zealand multi-culturalism is pretty unique. The group’s programmer, Chris Faiumu (a.k.a. Fitchie) grew up listening to American soul and jazz of the 70s, eventually finding his way to hip hop and reggae. As a Somoan, Fitchie found a connection in some of that island music too, as did other Maori and Pacific Islanders: “Indigenous people drew parallels in the work of Bob Marley in their own struggle here in this country,” he explains. The album also features vocals from Aussie singer Alice Russell – a slick ANZACS collabo if ever there was one. The (unfortunately title) album, Dr. Boondigga and The Big BW drops on November 10, in advance of a quick tour of California. Dates listed below.

10/06/09 >> go there

Click Here to go back.