An Album Of The Year Contender: Kneecap – ‘Fine Art’ Review

Words: Josh Parsonage

Having formed 7 years ago, Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap’s long awaited debut album ‘Fine Art’ is nothing less than what it says on the tin. The record violently throws you from track to track, yet is meticulously put together in a way that recreates the feeling of bouncing from pub-to-pub and club-to-club, helped by superbly witty interludes.

To call Kneecap controversial would be an understatement, the three Irishmen’s politically charged music has found them in trouble with everyone from local radio stations to the UK government, but the band do nothing but thrive off it. Following an opening instrumental featuring Radio Peate, Mo Chara and Móglaí Bap burst onto the scene in title track ‘Fine Art’: “Éist liom, ná tar chugam le do chuid smaointí, ná déan anailís ar mo chuid líntí/Listen to me, don’t come to me with your thoughts, don’t analyse my lines”, the band immediately push aside any of the incoming backlash about the LP, before getting into the depth of the politics, social commentary, and humour. 

‘Fine Art’ is deeply refreshing in its honesty, these are three lads who have lived and breathed these songs, each track is its own ode to life growing up in Belfast and even broader in a post-troubles Ireland. In the most incredible way tracks like the violent ‘I bhFiacha Linne’ and ketamine’s new theme tune ‘Rhino Ket’ are beyond hilarious, yet similar to the rave anthem ‘Parful’ remain
grounded in their commitment to exploring working class culture in Belfast. 

The album’s best moment is undoubtedly the collaboration with Fontaines D.C.’s Grian Chatten: ‘Better Way To Live’. The track, brilliantly partnered with ‘Sick In The Head’ which tackles a similar topic, discusses the reliance on drink and drugs developed by working class youth amidst economic oppression. The funky bass line comes curtesy of former Arctic Monkey Andy Nicholson, and captures the cyclical nature of the issue the track explores. 

DJ Próvaí, the mastermind behind Kneecap’s explosive beats, provides any writer the impossible task of picking out his best moments in a flawless performance. Not one moment on the whole LP fails in both bringing out anyone’s hidden rave-moves and channelling the anger which undercuts each
of the tracks lyrically.

I could spend weeks discussing the layers behind what Mo Chara and Móglaí Bap have to say and the way DJ Próvaí bring it all together, but it’s much better that i recommend that you immediately play ‘Fine Art’ on full blast, then play it again, for these immensely talented lads deserve every last bit of support for this masterpiece of socially and politically aware Irish language hip-hop. The band head out on tour across the United Kingdom in November, so make sure to get tickets for what will be a. truly mental night whilst you still can.