If Britain is going to hell in a handcart then Kid Kapichi are the soundtrack

Here's What You Could Have Won is a series of potent rants from Kid Kapichi, Hastings’ four angriest young men

Kid Kapichi: Here's What You Could Have Won cover art
(Image: © Spinefarm)

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For their second album, Kid Kapichi enlisted Dom Craik from Nothing But Thieves as co-producer. He celebrated by punching the guitars of Ben Beetham and singer Jack Wilson through what sounds like a meat grinder to deliver a ‘beat punk’ quasi-industrial update of The Damned’s three-minute punk template. 

On top, Wilson delivers lyrics with socially conscious humour akin to Jarvis Cocker, snarling like a latter-day Johnny Rotten

In short – as buzzsaw opener New England makes clear – Kid Kapichi see Britain going to hell in a handcart and are pretty bloody cross about it. Rob The Supermarket rails against poverty, 5 Days On (2 Days Off) attacks waged slavery, while Super Soaker just rocks. 

They have softer moments, such as the acoustic Party At No.10 eviscerating you know who, or the lovelorn Never Really Had You, but more typical is Smash The Gaff, which takes a baseball bat to the family china. Rude and recommended.

Neil Jeffries

Freelance contributor to Classic Rock and several of its offshoots since 2006. In the 1980s he began a 15-year spell working for Kerrang! intially as a cub reviewer and later as Geoff Barton’s deputy and then pouring precious metal into test tubes as editor of its Special Projects division. Has spent quality time with Robert Plant, Keith Richards, Ritchie Blackmore, Rory Gallagher and Gary Moore – and also spent time in a maximum security prison alongside Love/Hate. Loves Rush, Aerosmith and beer. Will work for food.

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