ALBUM REVIEW: Edit Undo – Happy Accidents

The twosome known as HAPPY ACCIDENTS are back with their new album Edit Undo and they have something to say – not just in its music and lyrics but with the whole concept of the album itself. Formed in Southampton back in 2013, this indie punk duo are no strangers to experimenting with their sound and aim to keep sounding fresh, which is exactly what they have done here. They didn’t stop at the music though, as the lead-up to this album’s release brings into question how music is valued in the modern age.

The album opens with Infinite Possibilities, which sets the intention of what the band are trying to say here. With an endearing drum beat and a strong sense of 90s nostalgia, it’s a great opener to prepare the listener for what’s to come. Rich Mandell and Phoebe Cross have two contrasting voices that create beautiful harmonies. When singing together, Cross brings an ethereal tone to the songs and Mandell keeps the listener gently grounded. However, when one is taking the lead in a song over the other it adds great punctuation to the album, without impacting its flow.

Dog Day is the third track on the album and the first Cross-led song. It’s the kind of track that could be heard in a wholesome coming of age movie, the line “Everyone my enemy, unless proven otherwise” offers a sentiment that could resonate with many. Although this song has a dream-like quality like many others on the album, it does offer a level of introspection. The transitions from gentle acoustic guitar slides to full-bodied electric give a feeling of going from pensive deep thoughts to epiphanies and clarity. 

Similarly, the track All Around has a great balance to it. A delicate piano intro, combined with beautiful imagery and a steady loop in the background is almost meditative. It’s another track that leans into the dreamy essence of the whole album, with the peaceful repetition of the line “We are all around” adding a level of comfort. 

Edit Undo is a testament to HAPPY ACCIDENTS as true artists, going beyond the music and lyrics of an album and showing there can be so much more to it. There are clear influences from the 80s and 90s and the dreamy nature emphasises that nostalgic feel. A small critique would be that it does leave the record feeling slightly repetitive. That being said it does not take away from the immersive nature of the album and may have been a deliberate stylistic choice. For example, the last track feels like the end of the road. The listener is being lifted out of the world the band created in this album and gently returned to the now.

The band have said the launch of this album is an experiment of  “playing the game vs not playing the game… It’s partly about looking at ways to challenge the ‘flash in the pan’ nature of releasing music nowadays.”  Their roots have always been in the DIY scene and culture, so straying from the typical format of releasing an album shouldn’t come as a major surprise. They sought to strike a balance between creating something different and exciting, while still acknowledging how the majority consume music today. They have also stated that this isn’t a “backlash to streaming” – after all, it is a convenient accessible way to listen to music.

The duo have built a whole world running up to the launch of this album on a hidden artist profile on streaming platforms. To gain access fans will have to actively support the artists the old-fashioned way by preordering the album. This allows them to access the album a month before release as well as bonus tracks on said secret profile.

Rating: 6/10

Edit Undo is set for release on September 27th via Alcopop! Records.

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