Architecture in Helsinki

Places Like This

Architecture in Helsinki - Places Like This

08/21/2007 | Polyvinyl Records 

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Places Like This Review

On their third full-length, Places Like This, Architecture in Helsinki mix and match elements of freak folk, indie pop and dance punk with abandon, albeit a slightly more mature abandon. The Australian six-to-eight-piece group still conveys leanings toward bongos and bare feet, but they also smartly keep all their songs under four minutes long. The range of instrumentation calls to mind some of the experimentation of the Elephant Six group of artists, but Architecture in Helsinki are much more interested in making you dance than Olivia Tremor Control ever was.

Falsetto vocal goofs abound, as in "Hold Music," which mingles a low, funky keyboard line with an abundance of unusual percussion. Occasionally, the tunes degenerate into brief chaos, but on the whole the noodling around is kept to a minimum. Atmosphere and humor are paramount, as in the wiggly "Underwater," which ripples background sounds out to the edges of your ears to paint the picture. "Like It or Not" provides the best capsule of the album, with touches of reggae, Half Japanese influences, and a campfire sing-along all coalescing in its buzzing, harmonic pop.

—Hillary Brown
08.17.07

Places Like This Track Listing

  • Track#
  • Title
  • time
  • lyrics
  • 1
  • Red Turned White
  • 2:46
  • Sound Clip for Red Turned White from Places Like This


  • 2
  • Heart It Races
  • 3:15
  • Sound Clip for Heart It Races from Places Like This


  • 3
  • Hold Music
  • 3:54
  • Sound Clip for Hold Music from Places Like This


  • 4
  • Feather in a Baseball Cap
  • 2:27
  • Sound Clip for Feather in a Baseball Cap from Places Like This


  • 5
  • Underwater
  • 3:30
  • Sound Clip for Underwater from Places Like This


  • 6
  • Like It or Not
  • 3:02
  • Sound Clip for Like It or Not from Places Like This


  • 7
  • Debbie
  • 2:53
  • Sound Clip for Debbie from Places Like This


  • 8
  • Lazy (Lazy)
  • 2:55
  • Sound Clip for Lazy (Lazy) from Places Like This


  • 9
  • Nothing's Wrong
  • 3:23
  • Sound Clip for Nothing's Wrong from Places Like This


  • 10
  • Same Old Innocence
  • 3:30
  • Sound Clip for Same Old Innocence from Places Like This


    • Places Like This Notes

    from Polyvinyl: Architecture in Helsinki is a six piece outfit of musical chameleons, formed in Melbourne, Australia, and now scattered across the globe. The band has developed a reputation for sensational live shows and a large, loyal fanbase. With two very successful albums already under their belt (2004's Fingers Crossed and 2005's In Case We Die), Architecture in Helsinki now hit the ground running with their third album, Places Like This. Upon first listen, it's no wonder that blogs and music sites are already chattering away insistently about the record. Places Like This is ten songs of instantly lovable pop brilliance, fizzing with electrical currents, channeling calypso rhythms and tropicalia flavors with lashings of percussion a-go-go. The album packs a kaleidoscopic punch that isn't far from astounding. Pop effervescence hasn't sounded this fresh in ages.

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