Kid Kapichi — Here’s What You Could Have Won — Album Review
Punk | Rock
Listen on Spotify | Listen on Apple Music
It was a chance happening of me listening to the single “Sardines” when I first discovered the Hastings-nurtured post-punk four-piece known as Kid Kapichi. From the moment I heard that single, I knew that they were a band that I would be looking out for going forward.
Thankfully for me, that search for new music would not last too long. Shortly after I discovered Kid Kapichi, which to be exact, was towards the later half of 2020, they had their debut album on the rise for release in early 2021. Named This Time Next Year, this first record absolutely smashed it out of the park!
It was safe to say that, with the aforementioned album, Kid Kapichi really held their own when it came to being the political voice of a frustrated generation. And along with that, they marked 2021 as their year to really break big.
But what of the musical year of 2022? That question was swiftly answered by the release of a single in the very first month of the year. Titled “New England”, the single also features the likes of Bob Vylan (another artist that I had discovered at a very similar time as Kid Kapichi, and just as loud of a voice for the “frustrated generation” I mentioned earlier).
But as more and more tracks followed suit, including the likes of “Party at No.10”, “Rob the Supermarket” and “5 Days On (2 Days Off)”, it seemed more and more likely that Kid Kapichi had their sophomore album ready for release earlier than some fans may have thought.
Their performance at Reading & Leeds festival this year was the final concrete confirmation that their second studio album, Here’s What You Could Have Won, was well and truly arriving, and imminently to boot.
We only had to wait a month or so after the festival weekend to see this album in full. However, I was able to get a sneak preview of some of the tracks, as a spectator and enjoyer of their live performance at Reading.
Much like how Bob Vylan’s 2022 album, Bob Vylan Presents The Price Of Life, was a continuation of the raw frustration found on their remarkable 2021 EP, Here’s What You Could Have Won is indeed a continuation of the themes found on This Time Next Year. albeit, the focuses on this project do seem a bit more blatant and obvious this time around.
But was that really a bad thing in my eyes? Not really; what matters in the context of an album like this is to be engaging. And engaging Kid Kapichi definitely is on this record. while themes focus on the money of the people being purloined by the higher powers of the government, and the feeling of self doubt amongst the people that come as a result, I felt that this narrative was weaved pretty well by the band on this album, with the ebb and flow of raw energy that feels fitting for such a narrative.
Speaking of such, Here’s What You Could Have Won carries a tonne of bangers, much like how This Time Next Year did before. However, there was a handful of slow-burners that really surprised me in a good way to. Tracks like “Never Really Had You” and “Special” really did stand as great and engaging tracks in their own right.
I didn’t really think it too easily done, but Kid Kapichi have done it; they had equalled the greatness of their debut album. If not that, they have surpassed it. Intentional or not, their debut album foretold it; maybe “This Time Next Year”, they would be once again releasing or teasing yet another stellar record.
Favourite Tracks: New England | 5 Days On (2 Days Off) | Cops & Robbers | Smash The Gaff
Least Favourite Track: Party at No.10
Spinefarm Records | Universal Music
