Music > Album Reviews

Happy Accidents - Everything But The Here And Now

09/02/18

Having made a name for themselves with their debut outing You Might Be Right in 2016, London indie/punk trio Happy Accidents return with fresh new energy on their new album Everything But The Here And Now.

From the outset, it’s clear that “Everything But The Here And Now” is a step forward for Happy Accidents. All over the record, there’s small and subtle changes to the group’s sound. Album opener ‘Nunhead’ flourishes with electronic synths, and the album’s atmospheric production, courtesy of Hookworms’ Matthew “MJ” Johnson, gives the album a melancholic and introspective quality, a stark contrast from the sprightlier and livelier tone of the group’s debut. Drummer Phoebe now takes a more prominent position with the band’s vocals, taking the lead on songs like ‘Different Views’ and ‘A Better Plan’.

It's not all change though. ‘Act Naturally’, with its driving guitar line and chants of “is it nothing at all?”, proves that Happy Accidents are still able to write catchy hooks with a punk sensibility. “Everything But The Here And Now” may not break any major musical ground in the grand scheme of things, but it is an incredibly well-written group of songs that shows a band that is slowly but surely maturing.

7/10