ATA Records
The Flying Hats – Ups
Pre-order — Releases 4th September 2026.
Ships on, or as close as possible to, the release date.
Pickup available at 12 Bar Music and Social - Exeter
Usually ready in 24 hours
Ups is the second LP from The Flying Hats, and it arrives riding the crest of an increasingly funky Hammond-infused retro-reggae wave. The album joins the dots between Aggrovators-style reggae and Meters-style funk—a sound that feels rooted in the early 1970s yet completely contemporary.
Opening with Lightning Bottle's introductory drum-fill (a nod to Dawn Penn's reggae classic), the record settles into a heavy, mid-tempo Hammond-led riddim that appeals to those who lean toward the Bunny Lee production aesthetic. But Ups also delivers five cuts that evoke Kingston's Sound of '69, tempered with New Orleans sass—deliriously joyful Hammond melodies and funky backbeats balanced against that offbeat reggae rhythm. Tracks like Kick About, Double Up, and Market Day provide uptempo bounce; the clattery syncopated drums on Stout and the gorgeous Hammond-funky/boss-reggae groove of Traffic Light provide something looser-limbed.
If Allen Toussaint and The Meters had relocated to Kingston in the early 70s (or Bunny Lee and Jackie Mittoo moved to the Big Easy), it would sound like this.
For fans of: The Aggrovators, The Meters, Bunny Lee productions
Tracklist
Details
Format: Vinyl LP
Release Date: 4th September 2026
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