HEAR TODAY MUSIC FUSION OF FAT FREDDY'S DROP HAS ISLAND FLAIR.

Byline: Fred Shuster Music Critic 

Fat Freddy's Drop is a seven-piece musical collective from Wellington, New Zealand, whose fusion of digital dub and Polynesian soul is making waves in world music circles.

The band -- named after the cat in Furry Freak Brothers comic strips -- grew out of a loose collective of Wellington musicians mixing reggae, dub, funk, jazz, soul and club rhythms alongside a desire to connect with Maori and Polynesian roots.

FFD came to be leaders of this thriving local scene through a strong sense of melody, shifting rhythms and vocalist Joe Dukie's soulful vocals. The solid reggae and dub grooves and heartfelt melodies of top-notch workouts like ``Wandering Eye'' recall the earliest days of UB40.

It's not just New Zealanders who've warmed to the band: British radio host and author Charlie Gillett declared Dukie ``the best soul singer currently working'' while FFD's ``Based on a True Story'' (Kartel/Quango; $16.98), just issued in the U.S., won the album of the year prize from BBC Radio One DJ Gilles Peterson's worldwide music awards.

The ensemble's high-tech soul, good vibes and unique South Pacific identity creates a special flavor and plans are afoot to bring the band to the U.S. this year. We caught up with FFD trombonist Hopepa (Joe Lindsay) for more.

Q: You've devised a surprisingly unusual sound.

A: We borrow from all over the world to get our own flavor. Wellington is kinda like a small village where it's easy to get together with your mates and have a jam. It's also so small that you can't go around dissing everybody, because chances are you'll run into them on the street. It's a bit of a glass house where collaboration and co-operation are key.

Q: Have you been to the States before?

A: We played at a festival in Detroit a couple of years ago. I definitely felt a bit of culture shock because it was not how I expected it to be. I think my expectations were based on what I'd seen on TV. Mind you, Detroit is not your average American city, but it was a real buzz to be in the home of so much amazing music.

Here's a sample of other new releases in stores this week:

Chicago's ``emo'' figureheads Fall Out Boy issue another howl of adolescent angst with ``Infinity on High'' (Island; $13.98).

On ``Phantom Punch'' (Astralwerks; $15.98), Norway's pop balladeer Sondre Lerche embraces a gutsier sound.

London quartet Bloc Party releases ``Weekend in the City'' (Vice; $15.98), their eagerly awaited second album.

Rickie Lee Jones' ``The Sermon on Exposition Boulevard'' (New West; $16.98) is based on the words of Jesus Christ.

In ``Yes, I'm a Witch'' (Astralwerks; $15.98), Cat Power, Flaming Lips and others rework tracks by Yoko Ono.

Also in stores

``Children Running Through,'' Patty Griffin (Ato; $15.98)

``Barenaked Ladies Are Men,'' Barenaked Ladies (Desperation; $18.98)

``Voila,'' Belinda Carlisle (Rykodisc; $18.98)

``Headstrong,'' Ashley Tisdale (Warners; $18.98)

``Waitin' in the Country,'' Jason Michael Carroll (Arista; $12.98)

``Transitions Vol. 2,'' John Digweed (Thrive; $17.98)

``Phenomenal Ruthie Foster,'' Ruthie Foster (Blue Corn; $14.98)

``On the Other Side,'' Tierney Sutton (Telarc; $18.98)

``New Magnetic Wonder,'' Apples in Stereo (Yep Roc; $16.98)

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Photo:

(1 -- 7) Fat Freddy's Drop, clockwise from top left: Fitchie Mu, Sugar Two Tone, Dobie Blaze, Jetlag Johnson, Fulla Flash, Hopepa and Joe Dukie.