{"product_id":"the-flying-hats-ups","title":"The Flying Hats - Ups","description":"\u003cp\u003eThey say you've got to take your ups with your downs, but that's only because 'they' haven't heard \u003cem\u003eUps\u003c\/em\u003e, the second LP by \u003cstrong\u003eThe Flying Hats\u003c\/strong\u003e, which is all ups and no downs whatsoever. The album arrives little more than a year after debut long player \u003cem\u003eThe Return of the Flying Hats\u003c\/em\u003e and mere months after the release of an instant classic 45 single featuring non-album tracks \u003cem\u003eThe Blender\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eHot Cakes\u003c\/em\u003e. So it's fair to say that \u003cem\u003eUps\u003c\/em\u003e finds the band riding the crest of an extremely funky Hammond-infused retro-reggae wave. Indeed, it's tempting to say not just 'riding the crest of' but 'increasing said wave's actual mass' - for the new set delivers a second floor-shaking helping of a sound that joins the dots between \u003cstrong\u003eThe Aggrovators\u003c\/strong\u003e-style reggae and \u003cstrong\u003eThe Meters\u003c\/strong\u003e-style funk.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOpener \u003cem\u003eLightning Bottle\u003c\/em\u003e kicks off with an introductory drum-fill that briefly nods to a certain \u003cstrong\u003eDawn Penn\u003c\/strong\u003e classic before settling into a heavy, mid-tempo, Hammond-led riddim providing instant appeal for those who lean more towards the \u003cstrong\u003eBunny Lee\u003c\/strong\u003e\/'70s side of things. The same can be said of a trio of easy-rolling bubblers consisting of \u003cem\u003ePinball\u003c\/em\u003e - a brisk number near the start of the album's second half - along with the wistful beauty of \u003cem\u003eSo Long\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eStep Up\u003c\/em\u003e, which close the album.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThose who prefer reggae that evokes the Kingston 'Sound of '69', however, will salivate over the balance of tracks which deliver no fewer than five such cuts tempered with a fat slice of New Orleans sass, revelling in deliriously joyful Hammond melodies and funky backbeats, while maintaining that offbeat reggae rhythm. \u003cem\u003eKick About\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eDouble Up\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eMarket Day\u003c\/em\u003e provide uptempo bounce, while the clattery syncopated drums on the stripped-back skank of \u003cem\u003eStout\u003c\/em\u003e and the absolutely gorgeous Hammond-funky\/boss-reggae groove of \u003cem\u003eTraffic Light\u003c\/em\u003e provide something a little more loose-limbed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf \u003cstrong\u003eAllen Toussaint\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eThe Meters\u003c\/strong\u003e had upped sticks and relocated to Kingston (or \u003cstrong\u003eBunny Lee\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eJackie Mittoo\u003c\/strong\u003e had moved to the Big Easy) in the early '70s, it would have sounded like this. The fact that neither of those scenarios occurred is the early '70s loss and our gain!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"ATA Records","offers":[{"title":"Vinyl LP","offer_id":58659058450777,"sku":"SDZ-49210","price":30.99,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":58659058483545,"sku":"SDZ-49211","price":15.99,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0588\/3455\/0945\/files\/REP_20260723_0959_090031_246_p_The_Flying_Hats_Ups03_1_001.jpg?v=1784797930","url":"https:\/\/spindizzyrecords.com\/products\/the-flying-hats-ups","provider":"Spindizzy Dublin","version":"1.0","type":"link"}