Fat Freddy's Drop

Tue 30th Jun, 2009 in Features

Was I the only one that laughed when I heard the title of Fat Freddy Drop’s latest album? Dr Boondigga and the Big BW? What the hell is a – œBoondigga’, and why are they talking about Big W? I would have thought that FFD would have been big enough now that they could stop buying their jocks from chain stores. Maybe it was a tongue-in-cheek reference about materialism? I was delighted when I got the opportunity to sift through the bargain bin with Mu, FFD’s ‘Master of Reality’.

“What’s a Big W?” laughs Mu. (Well, there goes my theory). “I dunno, [the title] is a mystery, really. I take the Big BW to mean The Big Brain-Wash and Dr Boondigga is some evil creature who’s trying to sign us to a major label.”

Although FFD’s 2005 debut studio release, Based on a True Story, went gold overnight and reaped just about every NZ music gong in 2005 and 2006, FFD refused to sell out on their follow-up album. All 70 minutes were recorded in Mu’s home studio, self produced and “totally DIY”. Since being released in NZ last month, Dr Boondigga has gone platinum in just four days. And to top it off, they knocked Eminem off the top chart spot.

Their sophomore album has been in the mixer for the past 18 months, and is finally ready for the public ear. Mu calls the record “more varied, more modern. There’s definitely a bit of house and techno in there, but still maintaining our love of roots music.”

Dr Boondigga was written through live jam sessions, which they record every time they perform. So whenever you see Fat Freddy’s live, you’re potentially listening to the beginnings of a new track. There is a constant ebb and flow in the Freddy’s world that you can’t help but get caught up in.

The band has taken in a wide range of influences for Dr Boondigga, none of which ring any proverbial bells for me: Berlin bashment, Portuguese top forty, tooting Bhangra beat and Montmartre TV shop Techno Hi-Life to name a few. Mu reckons that the crew “pick up those flavours when [we’re] on the road touring…And when you’ve got seven people in the mix, you’re gonna have a whole lotta different flavours.”

FFD have been touring for more than half of their four-year hiatus from the recording world. They’ve brought back many stories that have influenced their music. “That’s the fun thing about touring: finding yourself in all of these crazy countries where people love your music. Europe – that’s where you find the goodness.”

I have had my share of European Fat Freddy’s Drop experiences when I was travelling last year, so we start swapping stories: I once found myself on an island in the Danube River in Budapest, tripping to local dub music, when someone dropped Fat Freddy’s. I dropped my shit. The moment was cut short when the DJ decks went up in flames and the island party had to be evacuated. Fat Freddy’s Drop literally set the house on fire in Hungary.

Of course, I knew that Mu was about to wipe all over my story with one of his own, but he seemed reluctant to go into details. “But most of mine are X-rated,” he pleads, laughing as I push for something better.

“Well, the band doesn’t really want to tell the stories when we end up in jail…” I have to wrangle this story out now. “Err…In Spain, we errr…We lost a roadie and our guitarist in Barcelona. They were helping out someone in the street; they were in a bit of trouble and they stepped in there, and helped this person out…Which I don’t believe…and ended up in a brawl. They gave some of these local guys a, err…’beating’.

“Then the cops showed up, and our boys are going ‘Yeah! Thank god!’ But what happens in Barcelona, you’re guilty until proven innocent. So they all got thrown in jail, and sat in there for two days. We were lucky we had three days off!” Detained in a Barcelona police cell. Mu 1, Georgia 0.

Even when telling stories of international unrest, Mu takes his time answering questions. I envisage him on the other end of the crackly line sitting in a weathered armchair on a porch, gazing out into the Wellington mist, joint in hand. “It’s just a bit more of a slow island culture over here, for sure.” Mu sounds so laid-back he’s practically horizontal. Sounds about time to put on a copy of Dr Boondigga.

Dr. Boondigga & The Big BW is out now through Inertia.