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Rating:
Offbeat rhythms, slowdowns, and accelerations flavored with sonic spices that deliver reminiscences of the Philly sound, a soul immersed in dub echo and carried by a sinuous breath over ten tracks.
A great album, this debut by the New Zealand collective, 7 members who have already achieved considerable success at home, destined to amplify thanks to the live dimension, where they seem to give their best, according to what is read about them.
But even the "home" listening allows you to enjoy what turns out to be an exuberant exercise in style, a successful combination of elements in support of Joe Dukie's versatile voice and his melodies. Which settle on dub or reggae bases or snake through bouncy funky soul solutions, punctuated by an accurate and brilliant brass section, supported by effective lines traced by a full-bodied bass (generated by a sampler that in the final "Hope" gives way to a double bass) and enriched by a careful use of acoustic delicacies and electronic portions, as well as by the sometimes "funkadelic" reminiscences of the keyboards. Tracks with an average duration of around 6/7 minutes, strung together in a sequence that guarantees over an hour of immersion in atmospheres rich in details but never overwhelming.
In the name of a relaxed listening experience that also makes you tap your foot, of what they call "hi-tek" soul. Where the ingredients blend smoothly and allow for tempo changes, small detours, densifications, and abandonments, non-trivial developments even within the same track.
If you like dub, its relaxed and circular attitude, but also appreciate the languid soul exquisiteness and danceable beats. If sometimes all you desire is to let it spin around, the music, let it go and find yourself humming, following the little luminous spores spinning in the sonic kaleidoscope that envelops you.
Well, if it’s the same for you, perhaps the debut album by Fat Freddy's Drop will hold some pleasant surprises for you. Even after the first listens. Because, even though it's immediately enjoyable, it’s sprinkled with slow-release details.
And, between us: on certain days, what more could one want from an album?
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