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Gilles Peterson has consistently supported the reggae-soul-funk-jazz outfit from Wellington and they do stand apart. The new album was written, produced and performed by the seven members of the band; DJ Fitchie (aka Mu, DJ Mu, Chris Faiumu): beats, Joe Dukie (aka Dallas Tamaira): vocals, Jetlag Johnson: guitar, Fulla Flash: sax, Sugar 2 Tone: trumpet, Hopepa: trombone and Dobie Blaze: keys.

When GP opened up his show with the first track off the album the other week, he said afterwards that it went straight in at No.1 in the New Zealand charts. But that track, ‘Ernie’ has a history that reflects the band’s worldwide coverage ambitions. A live version that was recorded at Cafe Moskau, Berlin has already been released by Sonar Kollektiv’s sub-label, Best Seven (the other side is Joe Dukie and DJ Fitchie, ‘This Room’ which is worth tracking down).

‘This Room’ also features on the album and one of Fly’s Polish friends, DJ Jerry played the preceding track, ‘Cay’s Cray’s’ the other day on his NOVA FORMA radioshow. Both are ‘typical’ FFD tracks on the reggae groove with Dallas on lead vocals with tales of love on the one hand and “The skank be the rock in my life” on the other.

‘Ray Ray’ is the downtempo soul side of the band with haunting horns, Rhodes keys with added clavinet boogie synths. “Tell me what’s the world with no soul, oh so cold,” hook line is sung as he means it and reminds me of his performance on ‘Dust’. This is great, it’s a shiver down the spine stuff with a smile on your face (like Amp Fiddler).

The sensitive ‘Dark Days’ showcases the vocals again, starting with slow acoustic guitar and speeding up to a dubby horn and sax ending. ‘Del Fuego’ is similar in feel with an emphasis on downtempo soul. Both are exampleof what a rounded band they are (without any let up in quality). Having said that, the next track is ‘trade mark’ downtempo reggae groove, ‘Flashback’ (a few copies of which turned up in London on their own label, The Drop with a version of ‘Midnight Maurauders’ from the live Gilles Peterson, Worldwide session at the BBC, Maida Vale, 3rd May 2004).

“Feels so good when I know you’re skankin’ with me” says all that ‘Roady’ is about but has a bit of a surprise towards the end with a rap and sax solo bongo break down. It gets you ready for ‘Wandering Eye’ — which goes uptempo reggae bounce as he sings, “I’ve got the wandering eye, Oh you know I’ve got it”. Another great soulful horn/key climax mellows out into a clap-along dub.

The last of the ten tracks is ‘Hope’ which isn’t the ‘Hope’ that first came out on a 10” and got me into this band. The album version is a slow gospel/soul affair with added female vocals. A cool chill track to end on.

Keep your eyes open for the 10” though. Is there a time when singing “Hope for a generation” is not appropriate? It brought a lump to my throat when I first heard it (and still does). A subsequent 10” was released with two remixes by MKL & Soy Sos, which added a cello arrangement and a touch of house that worked really well.

Dallas/Joe Dukie also appears on a new 12” by fellow New Zealander Tubbs called ‘Five Day Night’ (on Exceptional). Friend of Fly, Nik Weston is rather partial to this one (Nik did a One World special on Radio 1 recently featuring Exceptional, see links below). And while talking of Nik, Dukie and DJ Fitchie recently had a 12” called ‘Seconds’ out on the European arm of Japan’s Especial label. A bit pricey, but it is good. Dukie has also turned up on the new Dutch Rhythm Combo’s EP, ‘Venom’ (Pulver). He also did the cartoon drawings on the cover of the ‘Hope’ 10”. How does he do it all? And in order not to be outdone, Suga 2 Tone and DJ Fitchie turned up on BiggaBush’s ‘Deep Eastwood’ remix on Stereo Deluxe of last year.

Anyway, back to Based On A True Story, not one duff track covering 70 minutes means yet another essential purchase (well I’ve bought all their other releases mentioned). So whilst Carey Street is calling me, I can’t wait to see this band live (see below). Ideal for the summer. Rewind.

Reviewed: Fat Freddy’s Drop — Based On A True Story (Kartel) CD Cat. No. KCDL002 Release date: 27th June 2005

Links:
Fat Freddy’s Drop www.fatfreddysdrop.com
July: NZ/Aotearoa, August/September: UK/Europe inc. Astigmatic Festival (Poland), Big Chill/Bestival/Koko, Brighton Concorde2, Music Evolution (Cornwall 13th August), Big Weekender (Cardiff 14th August), Holland, Frankfurt and Berlin inc Cafe Moskau, Berlin www.das-moskau.com and Liquid Rooms, Edinburgh (06.09.05)
NOVA FORMA — radioshow every Wednesday from 8.00 pm to 10.00 pm on ABC Radio 98,4 fm (Szczecin/Poland) 2005.06.08 playlist: fat freddy’s drop — cay’s cray’s [cdr].
Gilles Peterson :: Tracklisting 06/05/04
Cinema Dub Monks — Sometime On A Field Kickin A Ball’ (Softly records) [The Record Room still has a copy for £6.50; it’s unusual]
Fat Freddy’s Drop in session
Fat Freddy’s Drop - ‘This Room’ (Live In Session)
Fat Freddy’s Drop - ‘Midnight Marauders’ (Live In Session)
Jackie Mittoo - ‘Totally Together’ (Studio One)
Exceptional Records: Show broadcast on Radio 1, Monday 13th June 2005: 0100-0300
Joe Dukie and DJ Fitchie - Seconds (Especial Distribution) Cat. No. ESPD-008
Dubheart www.dubheart.com If you like Fat Freddy’s Drop, try Dubheart’s reggae with added flavas of ska, groove, and funk as “dancing feet and smiling faces is what keeps this band travelling to Festivals”.