On their fourth long player, Australian indie pop band Architecture in Helsinki does what it does best: making a record composed entirely out of enthusiasm, happy thoughts and streamlined, bubblegum pop songs. Moreover, it might just be their most accessible album thus far. Moment Bends is one of those albums you could probably describe as a little mellow - although some might argue that it is rather very mellow. Whether or not that is a good thing, will depend on whose listening, but either way it is very irresistible music.
Moment Bends takes of with the dreamy 'Dessert Island', a soft-voiced love song, floating on a smooth synth vibe. And what else but a pan flute is throw into the mix to pimp up the whole thing. The song is followed by even more excitement with 'Escapee', a virtually weightless air bubble of a song, breating
More bouncy-bouncy electropop in 'Yr Go To', a song so obnoxiously happy, it almost hurts (the wedding bells!). But by then, you'll probably already be sucked into the vortex, so there's a chance you won't mind. On 'Sleep Talkin' it will be hard no to imagine lying on a bed of fluffy white clouds, while wearing a night gown and night cap. And on 'I Know Deep Down' we reach the blissful pinnacle of the album's sugar sweet happy vibe. Perceptive listeners will notice how the first note strikingly ressembles the opening tone of Justin Bieber's 'Baby'. If you're not hearing that, it's because you don't want to (an understandable case of selective deafness), but it's a great song either way. Another enjoyable track it 'That Beep', which was released as the lead single of their That Beep EP back in 2008. Like so much on the record, any efforts to find some tangible depth will be fruitless on this track once again, but the playfulness and sincere excitement with which the band brings the song make up for a lot. In fact, for those who secretly don't mind the extreme optimism Architecture in Helsinki shares with the Danes of Alphabeat, Moment Bends will most likely contain few flaws.
And now for the bad news: at times the band's sweetness can start to annoy a little. After a while the album can start to feel like one long valium-induced trip. Joyful, but also a bit numb and over-the-top in a bit of an artificial way and believe me, after half an album that can start to tire. In a way Moment Bends sometimes evoked the sensation I experienced as a kid playing Tombi, after he had defeated the Forest Evil Pig (aka the light blue one), thus bringing the dwarf village back to its original state of joy. Sure, I'd happy for the dwarves, but the unbareable lightness of their existence and even more so the excrutiatingly empathic, mellifluent tunes that went with the new world, would strongly dissuade me from spending much more time there. Much like that obscure 1990's gaming reference, Architecture in Helsinki will probably not speak to everyone, nor will its lightness appeal to everyone. But in small doses there should be a time and place in everybody's life for bouncy pop tunes, soft, dreamy vocals and the whole fanfare thing. And sure, on the wrong timing it may also lead to a murderous rage. But it's still worth giving a try. You never know.
Value seekers may want to check out their second album In Case We Die, which offers just a little more avant-garde and just a little less indie pop. And if it can all sound a little more grown up, their fellow Australians from Cut Copy might be your thing.
More bouncy-bouncy electropop in 'Yr Go To', a song so obnoxiously happy, it almost hurts (the wedding bells!). But by then, you'll probably already be sucked into the vortex, so there's a chance you won't mind. On 'Sleep Talkin' it will be hard no to imagine lying on a bed of fluffy white clouds, while wearing a night gown and night cap. And on 'I Know Deep Down' we reach the blissful pinnacle of the album's sugar sweet happy vibe. Perceptive listeners will notice how the first note strikingly ressembles the opening tone of Justin Bieber's 'Baby'. If you're not hearing that, it's because you don't want to (an understandable case of selective deafness), but it's a great song either way. Another enjoyable track it 'That Beep', which was released as the lead single of their That Beep EP back in 2008. Like so much on the record, any efforts to find some tangible depth will be fruitless on this track once again, but the playfulness and sincere excitement with which the band brings the song make up for a lot. In fact, for those who secretly don't mind the extreme optimism Architecture in Helsinki shares with the Danes of Alphabeat, Moment Bends will most likely contain few flaws.
And now for the bad news: at times the band's sweetness can start to annoy a little. After a while the album can start to feel like one long valium-induced trip. Joyful, but also a bit numb and over-the-top in a bit of an artificial way and believe me, after half an album that can start to tire. In a way Moment Bends sometimes evoked the sensation I experienced as a kid playing Tombi, after he had defeated the Forest Evil Pig (aka the light blue one), thus bringing the dwarf village back to its original state of joy. Sure, I'd happy for the dwarves, but the unbareable lightness of their existence and even more so the excrutiatingly empathic, mellifluent tunes that went with the new world, would strongly dissuade me from spending much more time there. Much like that obscure 1990's gaming reference, Architecture in Helsinki will probably not speak to everyone, nor will its lightness appeal to everyone. But in small doses there should be a time and place in everybody's life for bouncy pop tunes, soft, dreamy vocals and the whole fanfare thing. And sure, on the wrong timing it may also lead to a murderous rage. But it's still worth giving a try. You never know.
Value seekers may want to check out their second album In Case We Die, which offers just a little more avant-garde and just a little less indie pop. And if it can all sound a little more grown up, their fellow Australians from Cut Copy might be your thing.
1. Desert Island
2. Escapee
3. Contact High
4. W.O.W.
5. Yr Go To
6. Sleep Talkin
7. I Know Deep Down
8. That Beep
9. Denial Style
10. Everything's Blue
11. B4 3D
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