Architecture in Helsinki

Architecture In Helsinki

Architecture In Helsinki – Places Like This

Formed in Melbourne but now living across the globe the interestingly named band Architecture In Helsinki are back with their first album in two years – 'Places Like This'.

Architecture In Helsinki's trademark blend of bizarre experimental pop is hard to find on 'Places Like This'. Opening track 'Red Turned White' sounds rigid, mechanical even, it's not a pleasant listening and I don't think AIH's fans will react well. Unfortunately the rest of the albums follows suit. The whole album seems uptight, maybe that's come from singer/songwriter Cameron Bird moving to New York, it's known that people in New York are notoriously uptight and hard to impress, especially on the music scene.

'In Case We Die' has a Caribbean rhythm that should be uplifting and fun, instead it feels forced and uncomfortable. The AIH guys used a wide array of instruments on this album – congas, trombones, synthesizers and of course all the usual suspects you'd expect to hear on an album – bass, drums, guitars. 'Places Like This' should be bursting with sound, instead it's completely one dimensional, flat like Holland, and dull like a horrible winter's day.

The tracks 'Debbie' and 'Lazy (Lazy)' capture the true colours of AIH's music, they're layered and carefree. However, I don't think this brief glimpse of their original sound is enough to impress their fans. There's something about 'Places Like This' that seems like the band have taken a step backwards, it's almost like they're afraid that if they do something different, something that will make them stand out from the crowd, because the school bully will pick on them, in music terms I guess the school bully would be peers and critics.

For those of you who loved Architecture In Helsinki's wacky, inhibition free music will not like this album, those of you who are just getting into experimental music will probably find 'Places Like This' truly original, but it's doing nothing for me.