Fat Freddy’s Drop are gigging in the UK at the end of the month (see links below) but they are not the only reggae-based band from the antipodes. I’ve not heard much from Katchafire, Che Fu, DLT or Trinity Roots but Rhombus look like they are the next to break through over here on the strength of their new 12” EP.

Not sure about the introductory rap/skit to ‘Mile High’ of airplane captain announcement as it smacks of some old 10cc ungolden oldie. Inevitably, it was seeing DJ Fitchie on the remix that caught my eye and fellow FFD member Toby Chang joins him. The addition of some hip hoppin’ funkiness is an improvement.

Having a look on the web site the original mix was released as a single last year back in NZ. My favourite of the remixes is the dub remix on the b-side that gets the Augustus Pablo treatment.

Another eye catcher is Submariner (aka Andy Morton) who has remixed ‘Tour Of Outer Space’. We know him over here for the remix of Recloose’s brilliant ‘Dust’ and FFD’s ‘Wandering Eye’ (somewhat overlooked as Jazzanova’s remix of ‘Flashback’ came out at the same time as his ‘Wandering Eye’ remix in March). The vocal version is a rumbling downtempo dub rap but the trombone and ethnic percussion make the instrumental special for me.

Like FFD, there are lots of them in Rhombus and they are the best sounding obliquely-angled equilateral parallelogram I’ve come across.

Hectic Mix nomination: Tour Of Outer Space (Submariner 12” Instrumental Remix)

Rhombus - Mile High EP (Rhombus Music) Cat. No:RMA-12002 Release date: Mar 2006
Tracklisting:
A1. Mile High (Extended Album Dub Vocal Mix) (4:49)
A2. Mile High (DJ Fitchie’s Bizness Class Upgrade Remix) (4:16)
A3. Mile High (High On Accappella Version) (2:36)
B1. Mile High (Desire Dub Remix) (6:39)
B2. Tour Of Outer Space (Submariner 12” Vocal Remix) (3:46)
B3. Tour Of Outer Space (Submariner 12” Instrumental Remix) (3:46)

Links:
www.rhombus.co.nz
Fat Freddy’s Drop UK Summer Tour www.fatfreddysdrop.com/gigguide.html