Kneecap – Fine Art review

A recent article in Britain’s The Times newspaper labelled Kneecap as “The UK’s most controversial band”. Really? On the surface, Moglaí Bap, Mo Chara and DJ Provaí – three young rappers/producers from West Belfast who write songs about booze, drugs and early twenty something hedonism – seem unlikely candidates for such an accolade. The somewhat pearl-clutching interview then went on to compare them with the Sex Pistols at their monarchy-baiting peak.

Reading the piece without knowing the subtext it’s easy to believe that Fine Art in substance will consist of Irish Republican polemic and sectarian divide baiting slogans. But underneath the landslide of working class language the trio’s message is about unity, particularly for the two generations in Northern Ireland who’ve grown up without the Troubles as an existential threat, albeit with some of the protagonists still at large in their respective communities.

But above all that to use the vernacular, Fine Art is fun, funny and f*cking brilliant. Loosely based around a night in a fictional pub and produced by Toddla T, characters and sounds – grime, trap, acid house, even traditional folk – bounce off each other on tracks like I’m Flush, 3CAG, I bhFiacha Linne and Rhino Ket.

25 hour party people? Well, there’s a bit of contrition as Fontaines DC‘s Grian Chatten duets on the comedown remorse of Better Way To Live, however the uplifting message of Parful, which remember’s Belfast’s early 90’s loved up rave scene, is one of peace through your choice of pharmaceuticals. Kneecap are here to prove to all comers that in a country with a centuries old history of division you can now have a good time – and unlike before, have it for a long time.

You can read a full review here.