Fat Freddy’s Drop – Based on a True Story
Reviewed by Sadie O., 3/22/07
Roots Rock Dub/Ska/Beats (and some freeform stuff) from New Zealand. For some reason, it’s cataloged as Electronica, but it’s mostly real people playing real instruments – just a bit of noises and effects added. Album went gold immediately when it was released in New Zealand, and was huge all over Europe, so now we get our chance at it. Long songs, lots of changes, some great sounds (and a few clinkers).
No FCCs detected. I love 1-3 and 7, can’t stand 5 and 9.
1. 7:17 ***piano chords and the sound a saw makes when you bend it back and forth for half a minute, then dramatic horn chords… at 1:30 along, midtempo skank starts. Lots of low-key, mellow dub. At 4:30 or so along, slightly uptempo ska with pretty male harmonies. Sweet! False ending about 1 minute from end, random keyboards and cymbals with only a hint of midtempo beat…
2. 7:07 ***midtempo one-drop skank with light-handed but solid instrumentation. Relaxing vibe. Pretty male vocals. Gets quite dubby for last couple of minutes.
3. 5:00 ****cool hand percussion intro, then slinky sort of cha cha dance dub bubble.
4. 7:38 *minimalist single beats and keyboard chords for first minute, then a sort of laid back soul groove. Sort of jazzy, soul vocals. Fun funky bit after halfway along, but it takes a LONG time to get going. I’da given it 3 stars if it got the funky part quicker…
5. 6:40 slow acoustic guitar intro that fades in gradually, male vocals, generally no beat, totally unplugged. Eventually (last third of song) there’s a laid-back jazzy riddim with dubby feel.
6. 6:30 **random electronica intro, very slowly adds elements to become a rather jazzy syncopated skank. I’m not totally feeling the vocals, but it’s pretty nice anyway. Lots of changes in middle.
7. 7:10 ***random horns intro, fade, then uptempo bubble, relaxed dance groove with male vocals and guest female rap. Some hip hop bits. Danceable and fun.
8. 9:49 **soft guitar strums and subdued midtempo drumless beat – relaxed and trance-y. Drums join for some rather funky and bouncy, but still very relaxed, skank 1.5 minutes in. Lots of changed in last half.
9. 5:24 soft percussion intro, slowing and adding strummed acoustic guitar and electronics. VERY mellow, IMO a bit cheezy.
10. *7:19 mostly silence intro, very random notes. Then farfisa, standup bass and vocals, sort of soulful, vocal harmonies and finger snaps. Very laid back, no beat. Female guest vocals, gospel-influenced. VERY quiet last minute.