Architecture in Helsinki is: Cameron Bird, James Cecil, Gus Franklin, Jamie Mildren, Sam Perry & Kellie Sutherland. Who randomly play - Bass, Drums, Congas, Percussion, Synthesizers, Trombone, Guitars and Samples. Formed in Melbourne but now scattered across the globe, they hit the ground running with their third album, Places Like This. It could not be more removed from their previous album, In Case We Die (2005). Fizzing with electrical currents, channelling calypso rhythms and tropicalia flavours with lashings of percussion a-go-go, the new songs pack a kaleidoscopic punch that is nothing short of breathtaking.

"Place Like This" was recorded in Brooklyn NY and Sydney with new best mate Chris Coady (Yeah Yeah Yeah's, TV On The Radio). First single 'Heart It Races' is laced with steel drums and builds through infectious pitterpat beats, layered "na na na na na" vocals to hands-in the-air dance floor breakdowns and swooshy, glittering rushes. With a vividly colorful video shot in Mexico by director Kris Moyes, this has summer dance party anthem stamped all over it. 'Hold Music' is fifty different flavours in one, loopy guitars, cowbell percussion, rude keyboard stabs and a beat that seems to have sparks flying off it. 'Feather In A Baseball Cap' is even more alarmingly brilliant, the music sounding like it exists in a zero-gravity chamber while Bird's vocal tries to keep things earthed. The shimmery, moonlit textures and subtle vocal harmonies of 'Underwater' melt into Bird hollering "Let me tell you about New York when it's hooooooooot" on the Caribbean cocktail revelry of 'Like It Or Not', making us head directly to the pool-bar for a strong rum & coke.
If "Places Like This" doesn't rouse your pulse, do check it, cos you may very well be dead. The band commissioned much-feted UK illustrator Will Sweeney for the album's insanely ace artwork, the intricacies and mayhem perfectly complementing the music within.
Architecture in Helsinki are just now hitting their stride. Don't be left behind.