Crash is the highly obscure 2021 sophomore album by the independent British electronic trio Don't Mention It, self-released via their digital platforms. Hailing from the quiet town of Banstead in Surrey, bandmates Martin, Mark, and Stephen built the project around a humorous yet highly dedicated ethos: creating music that is unapologetically "36 years too late." Rather than modernising their sound for contemporary streaming charts, the group utilizes Crash as a total love letter to the peak era of 1980s synth-pop, new wave, and underground electropop. The resulting 11-track collection is entirely self-produced, capturing a remarkably authentic, retro-futuristic atmosphere that sounds like a lost cassette tape found in an abandoned 1985 arcade.
The record moves with an admirable sonic consistency, relying heavily on vintage analog synthesizers, crisp drum machine programming, and atmospheric production choices. Moving away from the heavier punk sounds of our previous explorations, Crash balances danceable, nocturnal basslines with a distinctly British, deadpan vocal delivery. The group leans heavily into cinematic, late-night driving moods across key singles like "The Crash" and "Excite Me," while scattering playful instrumental flourishes and 1950s B-movie vocal samples across the back half of the record. Ultimately, Crash is a hidden gem of the modern DIY synthwave community, proving that the sonic palette of the 1980s continues to thrive in the hands of dedicated independent enthusiasts.
