ALBUM REVIEW: There Goes The Neighbourhood – Kid Kapichi
We’re well into the throes of 2024 now and the plethora of high quality music shows no sign of slowing down, particularly in the punk world. This year has already seen the likes of IDLES, FRANK CARTER AND THE RATTLESNAKES and SNAYX releasing great albums and EPs that are providing the soundtrack to the year so far. With plenty more to come, it is now the turn of Hastings-based troupe KID KAPICHI, and their eagerly anticipated new album There Goes The Neighbourhood is an absolute peach of a record.
After the release of their wonderful sophomore album Here’s What You Could Have Won back in 2022, it seemed almost impossible that KID KAPICHI would be able to capture that same lightning in a bottle again, yet they’ve managed to do so once again. There Goes The Neighbourhood is, in frontman Jack Wilson’s eyes, a continuation of their previous album rather than just a standalone third album. It sees the band tackle themes such as class divide, immigration, war and authoritarianism, to name a few, which at times does make for heavy listening.
Opening the record is the enormous sounding Artillery – a track that is led by a grungy foreboding droning guitar sound which is as oppressive as it is fun. The song itself is a scintillating call to arms about standing up to scumbags who look down on the less fortunate whilst simultaneously acting as a warning to those people who will always feel safe on their mountains of money. As soon as they’re challenged they’ll run away in fear as Wilson so gleefully says “See them run when artillery comes”.
Up next is Let’s Get To Work, a song that goes out to “all the dreamers” and the “don’t stop believers”. It’s one of the album’s lead singles, and a punchy punk tune that will have you moving instantly with its funky grooves. It’s also one of many tunes throughout the album that pokes fun at the ineptitude of the government, essentially telling you that you can’t rely on those in charge to make a change, but when you do it yourself you can achieve much more than you have been led to believe.
Among the hard-hitting tunes however is a lot of fun. Stand-out track Tamagotchi goes out to those of us that are “approaching the barrel of the big 3-0” – a daunting prospect to many. It’s a wonderful burst of nostalgia which names almost everything we enjoyed growing up, and almost feels like the millennial equivalent of BILLY JOEL‘s We Didn’t Start The Fire as it name checks the likes of Pokemon, Sunny D and those weird aliens you got in plastic eggs. The ever-present problem that is Brexit also features on this album too, reflected on the barnstorming Can EU Hear Me?. The track features that signature KID KAPICHI dry sense of humour and wit that’s been at the forefront of the majority of their tunes over the years.
There Goes The Neighbourhood rarely takes a second to breathe, particularly when you get to the eviscerating 999. Inspired by the horrific events around the death of Sarah Everard, it takes aim at the institution of the Met Police and how they’ve become untrustworthy due to a plethora of problems from corruption to racism. It’s by far the heaviest track on the album and the thought of seeing it live is absolutely mouth-watering. The monotony of living in Britain comes to the forefront on the ska-inspired Zombie Nation. Featuring Suggs from MADNESS (their first collaboration in 20 years), it looks at the futility and self-sabotaging nature of living under a Tory government for more than 15 years, with synths and guitars that give off a carousel vibe which ties in with how the country is being run with the same things happening again and again without any change.
Other tracks such as Subaru and Angeline offer a much-needed lighthearted tone amongst the hard-hitting tunes on the record and actually give you a rare second to have a quick breather amongst the madness. However, the album does end on a dour note with Jimi, a sweet and tender ode to a friend of Wilson’s who sadly passed away. The way he’s sung about makes you feel like you almost knew him and whilst it brings the album to a close on a sadder note, you’ll be left with a smile as it helps you remember absent friends.
There Goes The Neighbourhood is by far one of the best releases of 2024; whilst it’s nothing new sound-wise from KID KAPICHI, it keeps you hooked, ready to party and maybe start a revolution against an inept Tory government. The new songs are going to be off the chain when the band hits the road but most importantly they make you strive for something better in life which we all deserve, and it’s about time we all did that. In the words of the band themselves: “let’s get to work!”
Rating: 9/10
There Goes The Neighbourhood is set for release on March 15th via Spinefarm Records.
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