Wasn’t hard to get was just busy so had to wait for the man in his van to drop it round. I’ve been heavily streaming it already. Kneecap, Fine Art is a must have.
Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap, and DJ Próvaí have built up a notoriety for themselves which hasn’t been seen in Irish music for many years, perhaps ever! Even if you put that to one side for a second, Kneecap are a frighteningly articulate rap group. – https://www.kneecap.ie/
Mo Chara “The challenge was to show versatility across all the genres of hip hop.”
It lures you in with the opening track 3CAG, a relaxed almost ambient house track followed by Fine Art, an upbeat straight rap track, a fast paced track with a Welsh tone to the vocals.
Then, you get dragged across the Irish Sea by the scruff of your neck for I bhFiacha Linne, slamming into a heavy early 90s rave sound reminiscent of Altern-8 but with an extra helping of Draught Guinness!
I’m Flush pulls no punches either, hold the record sleeve close to your face as if being shouted at close up for this one! Better Way to Live takes a step back, take a breath and smile as this will have your foot tapping and your head bobbing whether you like it or not.
Love Making in collaboration with Nino is a pleaser, made for commercial radio, think record of the week type tune or getting ready on a Friday night vibe. Drug Dealin Pagans keeps it relaxed with another change in direction, still rap but musically the other side of the street from the previous track. Same again with Harrow Road, there are musical tricks and breaks in all these tracks that scream of influence but still sound new and fresh.
Then Parful which I believe stands for a ‘big compliment’, proper feel good RnB track that will go off at gigs big! Way Too Much to finish liked a ‘goodbye’ thanks for listening, all tracks intermixed with conversational eclectic interludes it’s a Grand collection of tracks that needs to be in everyone’s collection, yes I’m a fan of it and as I said glad I’ve got my hands on it.
The album cover art is genius too. The flattened black balaclava a stark contrast from the ornate gold frame you’d expect to see hanging in the National Gallery or a stately home. Well done Kneecap!
