Ups

Ups, the second LP from The Flying Hats, lands just over a year after debut album The Return of the Flying Hats and only months after their 45 featuring non-album cuts The Blender and Hot Cakes. It’s another floor-shaking set, joining Aggrovators-style reggae with The Meters-style funk.

Lightning Bottle opens with a drum fill that briefly nods to a Dawn Penn classic before settling into a heavy, mid-tempo, Hammond-led riddim. Pinball, So Long and Step Up keep that easy-rolling Bunny Lee-flavoured feel, with the latter two closing the album in style.

Elsewhere, the Kingston ’69 energy comes through loud and clear. Kick About, Double Up and Market Day bring the uptempo bounce, while Stout and Traffic Light lean into stripped-back skank, joyful Hammond lines and New Orleans snap. Think Allen Toussaint, The Meters, Bunny Lee and Jackie Mittoo meeting somewhere beautifully in between.