Fake Flowers Real Dirt

In the steamy basement of an otherwise unremarkable house in Baltimore, "Fake Flowers Real Dirt" forges their mix of genres from the funk/dope characteristic (e.g. funk, hip-hop): driving skank reggae moves to frenetic breakbeat/jungle, joined together with a series of quick jazz changes. Simple melodic lines and hooks give way to solos, with space.

FFRD's efforts began when singer Billy D William marshaled the forces of an accomplished group of veterans from the DMV music scene. Their goal is nothing less than sonic nirvana - obtained through the melding of diverse musical traditions into a form greater than the sum of its parts (a form deserving a new name (and wikipedia page)).

Atop the groundwork carefully, yet ruthlessly laid down by drummer Matt Segal and bassist / sound-man extraordinaire Ethan Montgomery, Billy D William sings skyward with gospel soul, singer Maddy Waters adds delicious harmonies while increasing the band's class considerably, Dave Eynck invites listeners into his world with cerebral chord voicings and sound, turntablist ISAAC mashes and scratches (real) vinyl, Gene Chapman and Cullen Waller play searing and soaring horn lines - close your eyes and imagine Cannonball.... while Roberto Villeda goes from classic hammond to buzzy west-coast style synth and wah filters. Brian Escavage provides percussion and extra drive to the deep rhythms - the icing on an already dope cake! The group embraces the style nouveau while never forgetting the trivial inequality: 10 seasoned players, still on their way 'round the block.

FFRD transcends superlatives; their awesomeness is matched only by their modesty. From the basement in a house in Baltimore, MD to your ears, "The flyest and the most, as real as non-fiction."