Architecture in Helsinki Album: “Do the Whirlwind”

Architecture in Helsinki is one of those delightful bands that are both twee and catchy, sounding a bit like a dancey collision between Belle and Sebastian and the Polyphonic Spree. Despite only having two albums out, this large Aussie band is rapidly making a name for itself.

One of the most entertaining songs on their second album, "In Case We Die," is "Do the Whirlwind," a delightful Stereolab-style dance tune that is just offbeat and sunny enough to avoid sounding cliched. Of course, there's also the wonderfully weird lyrics: "She said you'd given up on/your folks told me you should be left alone on a mountain top/knocking the aeroplanes down with stones/do the whirlwind..."

But this EP also has two other songs to follow up that underground single. One is a remix of "Do the Whirlwind," where the melodies are chopped up and glued back together, backed with some great bongos, wonky keyboards and sax. But "Find Your Animal Power" revs back to the sound Architecture in Helsinki does well, with another tight little pop song.

With "Do the Whirlwind," Architecture in Helsinki changed their sound. No, not in a huge way. But they hinted at their newly confident, dancier sound. This EP doesn't have the unifying pop beauty of the full-length albums, but it is a good short listen.

Architecture in Helsinki make excellent music; the songs in this single are quite good; "Find Your Power Animal" has a hint of acid jazz in its pop structure, and the original "Do the Whirlwind" is a fun little song that was a standout on the original album. The remix is almost as much fun, made less psychpoppy and more dancey.

With "Do the Whirlwind," Architecture in Helsinki" hinted at their evolving sound, and turned out some fun indie-pop melodies.

Architecture in Helsinki is one of those delightful bands that are both twee and catchy, sounding a bit like a dancey collision between Belle and Sebastian and the Polyphonic Spree. Despite only having two albums out, this large Aussie band is rapidly making a name for itself.

One of the most entertaining songs on their second album, "In Case We Die," is "Do the Whirlwind," a delightful Stereolab-style dance tune that is just offbeat and sunny enough to avoid sounding cliched. Of course, there's also the wonderfully weird lyrics: "She said you'd given up on/your folks told me you should be left alone on a mountain top/knocking the aeroplanes down with stones/do the whirlwind..."

But this EP also has three other songs to follow up that underground single. One is a remix of "Do the Whirlwind," given a funkier and dancier sound, with more horns. "Love is Evil: The Prequel" falls relatively flat, with an awkward mix of keyboard and rap. But "Find Your Animal Power" revs back to the sound Architecture in Helsinki does well, with another tight little pop song.

With "Do the Whirlwind," Architecture in Helsinki changed their sound. No, not in a huge way. But they hinted at their newly confident, dancier sound. This EP doesn't have the unifying pop beauty of the full-length albums, but it is a good short listen.

A word of advice to the Architecture gang: Never rap. Ever. They sound much better when they stick to dramatic, delighted vocals, and the "epic bilingual apocalyptic hip hop opus" just doesn't work. But the other songs are quite good; "Find Your Power Animal" has a hint of acid jazz, and the two versions of the title track are delightful indie dance-pop.

With "Do the Whirlwind," Architecture in Helsinki" hinted at their evolving sound, and turned out some fun indie-pop melodies.