Special Edition Part 1

Since forming in the 1990s, New Zealand soul-dub-electronic outfit Fat Freddy's Drop have steadily built a deserved reputation as one of the Pacifc's – and indeed the world's – best live acts. Their reliable combination of mixmaster Chris ‘Mu’ Faiumu's sonic technology, Maori singer Dallas Tamaira's impassioned vocals and a killer horn section has always guaranteed a pulsing good time.

The band's fifth studio album follows the tried-and-tested Fat Freddy formula, with its six tracks showcasing equal parts of funky feel-good grooves and reggae-infected rhythms, blended with alternating laid-back and revved-up dance-floor romps. The title-track is a bouncy, brass and rap-driven tune that also features the band's toaster, DJ Slave. The latest single, ‘Kamo Kamo’, and ‘OneFourteen’ are both easy-going skanks, while ‘Raleigh Twent’ and ‘Trickle Down’ are strong, club-friendly excursions fuelled by Faiumu's (aka DJ Fitchie) latest video game-sounding effects and his usual phat bass'n'beats electronics.

As with most Fat Freddy studio recordings, the real test for these new tunes will take place in the live concert setting, and while there aren't any major new directions explored here, the group's legion of fans will no doubt be more than satisfied with this latest instalment of Freddy-ism.