Their new single ‘Shoe Size’ continues the trend, started by their August release ‘Stainless Steel’, of vulnerable, almost gothic songs that followed the departure of their co-founding guitarist and drummer. But that’s in no way an insult; the style of stripped-back, post-punky bass and vocal-centric songs fits this darker era of the band, especially after their high-energy garage punk release last year.
Lyrically, the single mixes the band’s previous swagger with a new sense of self-reflection; the continued metaphor of obsession is handled as a direct fact, rather than a showy poeticism. Each line feels like it is toeing the line between desire and doubt, but that isn’t a surprise – this is a band coming out of a significant disruption and picking up the pieces.
The result of this split is a track that feels pulsing and urgent without being frantic; there’s room for quiet moments of resonance as the track pushes on. It suggests that remaining members Jack Wilson (Vocalist and Guitarist) and Eddie Lewis (Bassist) have done more than simply survive losing half of the band’s members; they’ve managed to distill the core of what made Kid Kapichi compelling in the first place, and they’re now rebuilding on that very idea.
If ‘Shoe Size’ is any indication of the direction for their upcoming album ‘Fearless Nature’ (Releasing January 16th), then the new era could be a bold departure from what they’re known for. The band’s courage in showing their uncertainty instead of hiding it makes this more than a comeback – it feels like growth.
Alice Ray
Image: ‘Shoe Size' Official Single Cover
If you enjoyed reading this article, please consider buying us a coffee. The money from this pot goes towards the ever-increasing yearly costs of running and hosting the site, and our "Writer Of The Month" cash prize.