Kid Kapichi - Fearless Nature

Kid Kapichi have never been short on opinions, but 'Fearless Nature' shows the Hastings quartet sharpening their focus as much as their volume. Still loud, still political, still very capable of shouting the right things at the right people, this fourth album also lets in more vulnerability and nuance than before, without losing any of the band's bite.

Opener 'Leader Of The Free World' comes out swinging, angry and confrontational, taking aim at modern politics with a familiar Kid Kapichi sneer. It sets a tense backdrop for what follows, before 'Intervention' flips that fury into something more immediately fun. It's loud, propulsive, and clearly built to go off live, balancing serious subject matter with the kind of energy that demands movement.

'Shoe Size' is an instant standout. Funny, clever, and dangerously addictive, it has a similar sharp-witted charm to Baby Dave, which is about the highest compliment you can give this kind of songwriting. Lines like "I've been day drinking all night long" lodge themselves in your brain and refuse to leave, turning the track into a full-blown earworm. 'Stainless Steel' follows with a similar kind of satisfaction. Lyrically elegant and incredibly pleasing in how it fits together, it revolves around the question "Are you scared of your fearless nature?", giving the album its title and emotional centre.