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As fans of The Drop since the ‘Hope’ 10” came out on Kartel Creative in 2003, the break through album Based On A True Story, Fantastic Voyages DVD & Tour and Live at the Matterhorn.

We got the first hint of what was to come on the album last year when they stayed in the studio instead of playing the Big Chill, with the release of ‘The Camel’ (featuring Alice Russell, who was a big star at the Big Chill this year) and the album starts with the most obvious FFD track, ‘Big BW’.

The Big BW is unquestionably Chris Faiumu (aka DJ Fitchie aka Mu) who is the figurehead, if not the leader, of the band that are known for their ‘extended’ jams at gigs and this jazz/psych/dub/house-style is incorporated on the new album more than on Based On A True Story. So the neo-soul fans will love Joe Dukie’s vocals and the horns on ‘Boondigga’ whilst fans of Sonar Kollektiv/Best Seven, looking for a ‘Slope Remix’ type track can get on ‘Shiverman’ that digresses all over the place.

Always happy to have a sea theme in their music, ‘The Raft’ and ‘Pull The Catch’ covers the reggae/dub crowd but you wonder if thier “non-categorizable music” has absorbed too many influences. Trumpet player Toby Laing (formerly of another Kiwi reggae-fusion band, The Black Seeds) says “We’ve absorbed a few influences along the way” which is surely one of the understatements of the year; “Montmartre TV Shop Techno Hi-Life” indeed!

After the success of Based On A True Story and a two year wait for Dr Boondigga And The Big BW, expectations are high. And whilst I can understand the “Fat Freddy’s Drop is a baffling letdown” type response to the album, I think that’s far too harsh as this is fresh Fat Freddy’s Drop with some new twists; especially the last two tracks.

Reviewed: Fat Freddy’s Drop - Dr Boondigga And The Big BW (The Drop) Cat. No: DRP013 Release date: 24th August 2009 Artwork by Mr Otis Frizzell
Tracklisting:
1 Big BW (6:15)
2 Shiverman (10:36)
3 Boondigga (6:00)
4 The Raft (7:13)
5 Pull The Catch (5:18)
6 The Camel feat. Alice Russell (9:38)
7 The Nod (8:41)
8 Wild Wind (6:58)
9 Breakthrough (8:50)

Links:
www.fatfreddysdrop.com
www.myspace.com/fatfreddysdropnz
“Fat Freddy’s Drop is a baffling letdown” by Arwa Haider - Monday, August 24, 2009
Gilles Peterson :: 06.08.09 :: Box Of Delights
Tracklisting
Soul Jazz Orchestra - ‘Awakening’ (White)
Mount Kimbie - ‘Maybes’ (Hot Flush)
Darkstar - ‘Aidy’s Girl’s A Computer’ (Hyperdub)
Joy Orbison - ‘Wet Look’ (White)
Calypso Rose - ‘Calypso Blues’ (World Village)
Fat Freddy’s Drop - ‘Big BW’ (Drop)
WOMAD