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Level 42


"The Pursuit of Accidents" is the third studio album by the British jazz/funk band Level 42, originally released in 1982 and later on CD in 1985. It reached number 17 on the UK album charts and has been reissued several times, including as part of a two-disc set with "Standing In The Light" in 2000, and as a standalone CD in 2007. The album includes three singles: "Are You Hearing (What I Hear)?" which reached number 49 on the UK charts, "Weave Your Spell" which peaked at number 43, and "The Chinese Way". "The Chinese Way" marked a significant milestone for the band as their first top thirty hit, reaching number 24 in 1983. It was released in multiple countries, expanding Level 42's international presence beyond the UK to places like Ireland, Germany, Spain, and the United States. "The Pursuit of Accidents" showcases Level 42's distinctive blend of jazz and funk influences, characterized by Mark King's slap bass technique and their polished, melodic compositions. The album's success solidified Level 42's reputation as leading figures in the British jazz/funk scene of the early 1980s and laid the groundwork for their continued popularity and chart success in subsequent years.