Architecture in Helsinki Album: “Moment Bends”

You'll feel embarrassed for liking this for about 30 seconds, before that feeling dissolves into unhinged glee. I definitely had a WTF moment when I heard the opening bits of the first track, "Desert Island", followed by a mild panic attack, thinking that AiH had ditched everything I liked them for. Luckily, by the end of "Desert Island" I was already sold. By "Yr Go To", I had a huge grin on my face, heart pounding in my throat. I love it when a band can still shock and excite me. It would be easy to dismiss Moment Bends as some light pop, and there's definitely heaps of immediate stuff on it but a thousand extra layers that I know will grow gradually the more time you give it.

I chuckd away "Places like This" in disgust, never to listen again. This one is closer to the playfful eclectic AIH sound I come to love in "IN case we die" and "Fingers Crossed".

I was greatly disappointed the first time I heard this album. In fact, I set it aside and didn't listen to it again for 2 weeks. Then one day, my husband decided it deserved another listen, and despite my reluctance, I agreed. By the third full listen, I was in love. No, it may not have the energy of the other two albums, but AIH has managed to develop a more mature, polished sound on Moment Bends, and it has quickly become one of my favorite albums. Mostly, I'm disappointed in myself for being so quick to dismiss it. Truly well done, polished, and beautiful.