Strange Places

Places Like This
Architecture in Helsinki
Polyvinyl, 2007
3 stars

I don't know what happened - the last thing I knew Architecture in Helsinki were 'that cute band with the glockenspiel'. But Places Like This' Knife-esque electro-calypso wierdo dance-pop is more abraisive than it is cute, with the melt-in-your-ears female vocals of old all but replaced by a kind of harsh 'glam Isaak Brock' (Modest Mouse vocalist) sound. Like the Melbourne group's first two albums it's a scattered affair (but oh so precisely scattered), but here there's so much happening that it almost distracts you from itself. Underneath all the strange vocals and synth effects there are some really great songs though - Like It Or Not and Debbie my highlights. Places Like This is a brave move for these guys - though not as immediately endearing as past releases, it is a grower - you'll be surprised just how quickly it's vines will wrap themselves around your eardrums.

Artwork: A+

Published in mX, Thursday 26 July 2007.