A remarkable name for a remarkable band. Contrary to what you might suspect, the eight-piece Architecture In Helsinki (AIH) does not come from Finland but from Australia. Their first album contains twelve songs that are difficult to categorize. Due to the lo-fi production In Case We Die clearly has an alternative sound, but guitar, bass and drums are hardly involved. In the huge laundry list of
… instruments mentioned in the CD booklet we find, among other things, various synthesizers and pianos, a melodica, wind instruments, percussion, strings, a harmonica, a theremin, a sitar and a sampler. AIH doesn't believe in restrictions and the band members decorate their songs to their hearts content with whatever they get their hands on. That produces a colorful whole, but due to the jumble of sounds and melodies it is also somewhat adrift. With less frivolity, the emotional impact would be greater, now In Case We Die is primarily an amusing listening trip. (MS)more
