New Zealand to New York

One of the more innovative entities on the global reggae scene, New Zealand-based Fat Freddy's Drop, is finally seeing light in the states. Based on a True Story has already broken much ground in their home territory. Besides spending 42 weeks of one year on the Top 10, 11 were at number one (breaking the old record held by, of all groups, Crowded House). Quango, with another solid release by Djosos Krost (reviewed a few days ago), has stepped up to give it life in America. Since receiving their excellent four-song live record Live at Matterhorn in 2001, and subsequently being turned onto the soulful, now-defunct Trinity Roots, FFD has been one of my top releases of 2006. Unlike conventional pop records, they borrow the clean production and smooth lyrical hooks indicative of radio sounds while extending each track to eight minutes. Most appealing is Joe Dukie's vocals, immediately inviting and poetically inclined. The addition of horns and stactatto guitar/keyboard stabs set against the landscape of heavy dub basslines and jazzy intonations on teh rhythmic end prove this band to be exceptionally talented. Dropping on Nov 7. Online at www.fatfreddysdrop.com.