Someone once told me that you aren’t a true Kiwi unless you’ve got a copy of Based On A True Story, the acclaimed 2005 debut album from 7-piece Wellington band Fat Freddy’s Drop. The highest selling independently released album in NZ history, it reached platinum status nine times. Well, I must be the real deal, cos yep, you guessed it, I’ve got a (rather mouldering) copy of the very same lingering at the back of my CD drawer – Based On A True Story’s chilled, dubby, reggae/soul/jazz-influenced vibe has been the soundtrack to many a party and late night over the years.

In 2009, the band released Dr. Boondigga & The Big W, a retaliatory riposte to the big record labels that tried to sign them after the success of Based On A True Story. Dr. Boondigga unveiled more of the fertile and electrifying soul-roots-dub-reggae crossovers that made Based On A True Story such an instant success, albeit slightly more polished:

Fat Freddy’s Drop play at Volkshaus, ZH, Monday 27.08.12. Tix here.

Dr. Boondigga & The Big W is out now on The Drop.