Fat Freddy’s Drop have announced their sixth studio album, SLO MO.
Described as a “bass-heavy blast of resolution,” the album aims to capture the energy of a Freddy’s live show.
Freddy’s beatmaker Fitchie describes the nine-track album as “Afro rhythmic soul music, an exploration of Black music from Polynesia.”
The album will be released on double vinyl on Friday, October 25th, with the band encouraging listeners to experience SLO MO in its full-length format. The digital release will follow on Friday, November 8th.
“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”.
The first single, “Next Stop,” is an uplifting soul track featuring hip-hop MC Mark ‘MC Slave’ Williams. The “Next Stop” visualiser premieres Friday, September 6th, at 8am (NZST). Watch the video here.
Fat Freddy’s Drop ‘SLO MO’ cover art by Dan Tippett
The visualiser captures the atmosphere of Freddy’s BAYS studio, where the new album was crafted.
Fans can also expect tracks like “Avengers,” a reworked tune from their LOCK-IN live album, the title track “Slo Mo” featuring Wellington’s Louis Baker, and other dub-heavy songs like “Getting Late” and “I Don’t Want to See You.”
Reeds adds, “Towards the latter part of the record, Joe Dukie’s vocal presence becomes quite spectral allowing listeners to inject themselves into the music.”
The cover art, created by local artist Dan Tippett, shows “an ancient ngahere (forest) in a Jurassic Aotearoa dreamtime.”
To celebrate SLO MO, Fat Freddy’s Drop are hosting vinyl events worldwide and will also embark on a European and UK headline tour in November and December. Australasian fans can expect tour dates for Aotearoa and Australia soon.
Fat Freddy’s Drop “Next Stop” is out now. SLO MO is out Friday, October 25th (vinyl) and Friday, November 8th (digital). Pre-order/pre-save here.
