My dad was never one of those dads you see on adverts. But not only is he my best mate these days, he did give me the three best pieces of advice I’ve ever had. First, he told his children that a bad day at home was better than a good one at work. He also explained that “money doesn’t talk, it shouts really loudly”, but crucially reckoned that me and my brother should never, on any account, trust a stupid person in uniform.
“999” , a track on “, ‘There Goes The Neighbourhood’ which excoriates the Met Police – and god knows there’s enough evil, racist, murdering bastards working there – makes it plain that Kid Kapichi agree.
This album picks up where the last one ‘Here’s What You Could Have Won’ left off (and if I am daring the police to sue me this time, then the last one saw me dare Kwasi Kwateng to take me to court) and provides a snapshot of a forgotten people scratching through the mire of a post-Brexit, post covid, post Tory scum even pretending they care landscape.
The last album was a call to arms. This one on its first song has this line at its heart: “See them run see them run when artillery comes like boom” think they’ve mellowed?
That one is supposed to be scaring the fuck out of “them”, and comes from “Artillery”. Then there’s “Let’s Get To Work”, let’s get to business. “But now I’m top brass, bubble bath, left them in the dust”.
There’s no point in MV pretending these are my life experiences, because they aren’t. But they tap into anger, something like Bob Vylan on “Tamagotchi” and if you’re a piece of Tory filth who believed the lies on Boris’ bus, then get to “Can Eu Hear Me” and see what you’ve done to the country.
“Get Down” concerns itself with working class frustration, and we can all feel that, while “Subaru” is an absolute beauty. Anyone who can find a reason to hate anyone will understand (and proves that everyone thinks Elton john is cool.
And if the hope doesn’t kill you, the apathy will. “Zombie Nation” makes it plain. Kid Kapichi aren’t one of them. And they’ve pulled Suggs from Madness into it (they’re are friends and he’s a fan of the band) for a brilliant piece of ska.
Their ballads are ace, too. I am sure I know “Angeline” the title character of the song.
The fact they are from a different generation is underlined again by “Oliver Twist”, what they describe isn’t, perhaps the experience of me, but they’re not my spokesmen, as it were.
And you probably didn’t have a ragged folk ballad to end this in your thoughts, but KK are brilliant because they out think you. “Jimi” is exactly that, and as a toast to an absent friend is touching.
And that’s why Kid Kapichi are so good. At their heart, these are songs about people. About community, about togetherness. In short, about us. The people that they want to forget exist. But we are here, and just like Billy Bragg, Frank Turner or countless others, these songs document our lives.
Just made by one of the most original bands in Britain. Watch them go.
Rating 9/10
