The third album from New Zealand band Fat Freddy’s Drop finds a sound that is ‘truer to FFD’s musical philosophy than anything else we’ve done’, in the words of band member Chopper Reeds. It’s an expansive piece of work, with just the nine tracks, some of which are nearer to ten minutes in length. Each is a substantial piece of work, given plenty of time to build and to express itself, which benefits the song writing, particularly strong here, and gives the opportunity for tasteful brass solos if needed. Some of these songs have a serious undertone, ‘Blackbird’ in particular, while ‘Soldier’ showcases a hot dub style that makes a strong impact. Later on there are some slinky dance numbers, with ‘Never Moving’ and ‘Mother Mother’ fitting the bill. The variety of styles and tempos here is good, and the band sounds tight and focussed – and even when they’re being serious, the music they make has a smile on its face to suit the sunshine.
