After a month of being available via an online treasure hunt, Happy Accidents (Rich Mandell and Phoebe Cross) release their fifth album ‘Edit Undo’. It’s a record that finds the band ruminating on the feeling of being past your prime and battling your inner demons.
There is talk of the seasons, going mad and a plea of ‘We can’t lose our chance’ on the opening ‘Infinite Possibilities’, all delivered against hooks that are equal parts twinkly emo and slacker pop. This swaying sound continues through to ‘Blink’, a song that finds Rich talking about ‘Saying words wrong, just for fun’ amidst some gorgeous harmonies. Recent single ‘Dog Day’ is a slice of sadpop that returns to how everything change except you, with Phoebe singing: ‘Seasons come and go and we’ve come to a standstill’.
‘Forgive Me’ is more glitchy and experimental with rhythmic delivery of the words ‘The idea what there is now could be all there is’ before ‘All Around’ takes the album into a ‘Digital Ash’-era Bright Eyes sound with a powerful mantra of ‘We will find a better place to heal’. ‘Makes No Difference’ is a breezy affair that looks at the fast-paced nature of life – ‘Cramming all the good stuff into tight timeframes’ – while ‘Awful’ finds Rich talking about a desire to be carefree despite the obstacles that get in our way.
There’s a psychedelic edge and tinge of Loney, Dear in ‘What’s Left’ as the band ask ‘What are we left with?’ after plans dissipate before ‘Be Afraid closes’ the album in a more electronic tone, complete with heartbreaking observations about a battery running out and trying to reach someone… ‘Edit Undo’ is an album full of ALL the feelings that doesn’t need any amends.
