After two years of steadily dropping singles and building momentum across London’s indie circuit, Alex and the Wonderland have finally bundled their sonic chaos into one vibrant package with Laugh or Death. Released on May 4, the five-track EP brings together the project’s previously released indietronica cuts while adding one fresh surprise to sweeten the deal. Written, produced, recorded and performed almost entirely by Alex Wonder from his home studio in London, the EP feels like the work of someone who loves having his hands in every creative pie—and thankfully, he’s got the talent to pull it off.
That technical finesse isn’t surprising. Before steering his own project, Alex worked behind the scenes as a recording and live sound engineer for Bastille, Florence and the Machine and Carolina Chocolate Drops. You can hear that experience in how meticulously layered these songs feel.
Opening track “Diggin’ for You” kicks things off with punchy production and pounding beats that instantly grab attention. Alex delivers witty, catchy vocals as he compares a lover’s mind and body to buried treasure, chasing emotional gold with equal parts charm and cheekiness. It’s playful, infectious and sets the EP’s quirky tone nicely.
Then “Electric on the Way” cranks the adrenaline up a notch. Sharp beats smack through revving instrumentals as Alex sounds absolutely euphoric, singing about “feeling electric” with contagious joy. It feels tailor-made for late-night drives or festival crowds losing their minds.
The title track “Laugh or Death” takes an unexpected turn, tackling the stigma around psilocybin and mental health with surprising boldness. And then there’s “Mini Catastrophes,” the EP’s newest addition and arguably its wildest ride. Haunting choir vocals creep in first before pounding drums explode into playful rap verses.
Listen to Laugh or Death by Alex and the Wonderland on Spotify.
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Review by: Naomi Joan