Fat Freddy’s Drop are a
musical national treasure that deserve wider recognition but do not generally receive
it. They tour Europe every year, sell out every gig and have a massive cult
following overseas. Here, in New Zealand they are popular, don’t get me wrong,
but it seems they should be more popular than they are. Is it because of the
style of music they play? Reggae/dub/roots music seems to be snubbed by the
mainstream even though it has a massive legacy in New Zealand going back to the
Herbs and other similar artists. Is it because they tend to stay out of the
media spotlight? Or, is it because they tend to take long breaks between
releasing new material? Who really knows.
The thing that makes
the Freddy’s so good, is that they are master musicians, whether it is Toby,
Joe and Scott on horns or DJ Fitchie on the decks. They also do things on their
terms, they release their music independently, they book their own gigs, they
do their own promotion and they release music when they want to. This is hard
to do in a music scene the size of New Zealand, but the Freddy’s have made a
career out of it and a successful career at that. Musically, they are also a
great example of a modern-day fusion act. People call their music roots music,
a term I hate. And, yeah there is some roots/reggae in their no doubt, but
there is also dub, funk, jazz, soul and techno influences, and it is these
influences that have been brought out especially on their previous album “Blackbird”,
as well as their latest release “Bays”.
“Bays”, named after the
groups studio in Wellington is Fat Freddy’s fouth studio album and second in
three years, a record of sorts for a band who take long breaks between albums.
Their previous album “Blackbird” was arguably their best, meaning “Bays” had a
lot to live up to. However, I can safely say afte a few listens it achieves
this, continuing on with the fusion sound that “Blackbird” explored and doing
it very, very well.
The album kicks off
with the funk blues of “Wairunga Blues”. This track is driven by a real funky
guitar riff and has a bit of a Stevie wonder and Meters feel to it. A great
start to the album and a good sign of things to come. Next up is “Slings And
Arrows”, this is classic Freddy’s with reggae coming to the fore with loud
horns and a driving reggae beat. This track is the most roots-sounding track on
the album and is bound to be a crowd pleaser. “10 Feet Tall” has a laid-back
summer feel to it and harks back to the bands first album, combining elements
of techno, dub and reggae. To my mind this track also has a 70’s soul feel to
it in places. “Wheels” for mine is the weakest track on the album and is a bit
of an experimental techno piece which doesn’t really go anywhere. The Freddy’s
are at their best when their songs are a bit like musical journeys which go off
in different directions and take unexpected turns, something this track doesn’t
really do. Thankfully, the next track “Razor” brings the level up again with
its sick groove in a style that I would describe as dark industrial techno. This
track allows DJ Fitchie to showcase his skills as a beatmatcher and selector
and is one of the album centrepieces. I am pretty sure if remixed this would be
well-received on the club circuit.
The second half of the
album kicks off with the soulful “Makkan”. This one starts with a very nice
jazzy sax riff and some quite delicate guitar licks that just shimmer down
through the speakers. It then continues on with some interesting percussive
beats that hold down the track aided by some very soulful vocals from Joe
Dukie. All in all, a nice laid-back alt-jazz track. This is followed by “Fish
in the Sea”, another one of the centrepieces of the album. This track builds
and builds in the first half before reaching a massive climax in the middle of
the song in the form of an all out funky jam of quite epic proportions, before
descending again. For me one of the songs of the year. And, then if that wasn’t
enough, the next track “Cortina Motors” continues in the same vain. This is a
real dance floor banger that kicks off with some booming beats from Fitchie
before transitioning into a sort of techno funk track with a massive horn sound
and some fantastic rhythms. Another album highlight for sure. Finally, the
album ends with ‘Novak” and after the previous two tracks is a bit like a come
down after a massive high, but a good come down at that. This track has a slow
funky blues quality to it with some very bluesy guitar licks, a thumping backbeat
and some New Orleans-style horns. A nice way for the album to end on.
So in conclusion, “Bays”
for me reinforces how the Freddy’s are masters of fusing different styles of
music together and in the process allowing them to showcase their collective
talents as musicians. The production on this album is fantastic, the horns
sound so fresh and clean, while the beats and rhythms give a great foundation
to all of the tracks, allowing the vocals, guitar and horns to sit on top and
at times jam out as seen on the longer tracks. I see “Bays” as being the second
part of a two part trilogy that began with “Blackbird”. Music critics have
spoken of how The Beatles “Rubber Soul” and “Revolver” were a bit like part one
and two because of their musical similarities, well to me, “Blackbird” and “Bays”
are Fat Freddy’s “Rubber Soul” and “Revolver” and help secure their legacy as
one of the great New Zealand bands of all time. “Bays” has to be one of the
albums of the year and is a must listen. If you can get to a Freddy’s show this
summer I highly recommend you do, because they are an excellent live band and I
reckon these tracks will go down a treat live.
A
- Sam
