Bays (Gate)

Fat Freddy's Drop are set to release their fourth studio album, 'BAYS', on October 30th 2015. Following the worldwide success of 'Blackbird' in 2013, the New Zealand based seven-piece are back with 'BAYS', a 9-track LP recorded at the band's BAYS Studio in Kilbirnie, Wellington a former 1950s HMV vinyl pressing plant. The predominantly studio written album draws on the lexicon of genres that have come to epitomize the bands' sound. Opening with the slow burn funk of 'Wairunga Blues' the album journeys through a hybrid of reggae, jazz with techno rhythms underpinning Freddy's signature horns and Joe Dukie's soulful and introspective vocal, arriving finally on the crooked blues jam of 'Novak'. The album exudes a confidence of a band truly comfortable in their skin. "It's been a more creative process writing this album in the studio rather than recording songs which have been well road tested", Freddy's vocalist Joe Dukie said. Internationally, Fat Freddy's Drop reputation continues to soar. Blackbird has sold over 200,000 album copies worldwide with the UK, US and Germany becoming the bands strongest markets. This success is reflected by recent live highlights including sold out gigs at London's 10,000 capacity Alexandra Palace and 3x Sydney Opera House shows. The BAYS album tour will start in October in Australia and roll out worldwide into 2016.