Fat Freddy’s Drop hit the ground running with new studio album SLO MO, a bass-heavy blast of resolution. Renowned worldwide for euphoric live shows, the Aotearoa band stepped inside their BAYS studio in Wellington, sunup to sundown, to craft a sixth studio album. Freddy’s beatmaker, Fitchie describes the heady mix as “Afro rhythmic soul music, an exploration of Black music from Polynesia”.
Following on from dropping the double vinyl for SLO MO in October, this week we welcome the SLO MO being available digitally.
“SLO MO is the strongest studio representation yet of a Freddy’s live show” says saxophonist Chopper Reeds. “It captures the undefinable Freddy’s sound. Usually we take the stage to the studio and this time, we’re excited about taking our studio creation on to the stage”.
SLO MO kicks off with Avengers, a tune originally captured on LOCK-IN live album, now reworked and extended. Title track ‘Slo Mo‘ is a funky jam with Aotearoa singer Louis Baker on the soul outro. ‘Next Stop’ is a soul-soaked salve that lifts you up, featuring Freddy’s toastmaster MC Slave with a fresh verse, ‘Stand Straight‘ keeps the light shining, ‘Oldemos‘ is a cinematic desert ride, ‘Out To Sea‘ raises the tempo with a drifting electro beat, ‘Roland‘ instrumental celebrates horns and distorted electronic rhythms, ‘Getting Late‘ gives a serious bass heavy slap while ‘I Don’t Want To See You‘ slips into heavy synth vibes and dub echoes.
Chopper Reeds continues, “Towards the latter part of the record, Joe Dukie’s vocal presence becomes quite spectral allowing listeners to inject themselves into the music”.
The evocative cover art is by Aotearoa artist Dan Tippett, who describes the image as “an ancient ngahere (forest) in a Jurassic Aotearoa dreamtime.”
Fat Freddy’s Drop Slo Mo Visualiser
The SLO MO summer tour features an impressive roster of special guests, and every show is different with appearances by The Teskey Brothers, Coterie, Rubi Du, and TOI, alongside support acts Logg Cabin, AJ Honeysuckle, and Rehekōrero.
The tour hits Brewtown in Upper Hutt, Lilyworld at Go Media Stadium in Auckland, a double-header at Neudorf Vineyards with the first night already SOLD OUT and Tōmoana Showgrounds in Hastings. The tour finishes with a performance at Electric Avenue Festival in Christchurch.
Tracklisting:
2LP Tracklisting:
A1. Avengers
A2. Slo Mo
B1. Next Stop feat MC Slave
B2. Stand Straight
C1. Oldemos
C2. Out To Sea
C3. Roland
D1. Getting Late
D2. I Don’t Wanna See You
CD & Digital Tracklisting:
1. Avengers
2. Slo Mo
3. Next Stop feat MC Slave
4. Stand Straight
5. Oldemos
6. Out To Sea
7. Roland
8. Getting Late
9. I Don’t Wanna See You
Fat Freddy’s Drop online:
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