Rating: 4 out of 5
This is the highly anticipated third full-length release from the New Zealand band which sees Fat Freddy’s Drop exceed half-a-million album sales worldwide; the result of playing over 800 shows in their career to date, clocking up 412 appearances in Europe, 27 Australian Tours and over 300 shows in their homeland.
Recorded in their own studio, Blackbird has already held its own on the Kiwi charts, spending four weeks at number one.
The sound:
For long time fans, Blackbird won’t disappoint. Smooth vocals and equally smooth music with the quintessentially Kiwi dub/reggae/roots flavour we have come to know and love. As with all good bands, Fat Freddy’s have looked to evolve their music while retaining their trademark sound. The album starts off with more traditional tracks and moves into songs with new beats and experimental electronic sounds.
The tracks:
Blackbird has nine new tracks for your listening pleasure, which may not seem like that many but some of the tracks are sizeably longer than your average song. The opening track, which goes by the same name as the album, clocks in at 9 mins 27 secs, but the soulful jazzy vocals, smooth horns and undulating percussive intro make it well worth the listening time.
Clean the House has been a great hit as their second release from the album. It’s catchy, driving beat and undeniable funk demonstrate what Fat Freddy’s do best, as does Silver and Gold, the first single.
Bones kickstarts with a super funky guitar intro, built up with horns and bass to create a track with a summery feel. Never Moving is one of the standout tracks that shows a glimpse of the band’s experimentation with sounds – a futuristic offering that sounds like a reggae roots robot.
The verdict:
Great laid back album and Fat Freddy’s at their best; perfect for relaxing to over the upcoming summer! For more info on Fat Freddy’s Drop, check out their website www.fatfreddysdrop.com.
Image / Supplied