In Case We Die

Amazon.com
This free-ranging octet from Australia has brought forth their second album and it's a veritable funhouse adventure. Experimental, but gently so, their diverse instrumentation and varied approaches to vocal presentations (theatrical character voices, choirs, rock band exuberance) make for a listening experience akin to someone's perfectly cerebral mix tape. The opening song alone sets the stage for all that follows, constructed like an overture, one theme and setting gives way to another. Much like the parable of three blind men trying to describe an elephant, if three different listeners heard three different songs from this wonderful album, there still would be no complete description possible. --David Greenberger

In Case We Die,Architecture in Helsinki,Bar None Records,Australia,Indie Electronic,Indie Pop,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop,Twee Pop

In Case We Die

Average customer rating:

surprising
Arty-texture in Alice Springs?
Annoying
Fun & talented
Amazing

In Case We Die
Architecture in Helsinki
Manufacturer: Bar/None Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Fingers Crossed
Feels
Set Yourself on Fire
The Crane Wife
Return to the Sea

ASIN: B0007LPM78
Release Date: 2005-04-12

Tracks:

Nevereverdid
It's 5!
Tiny Paintings
Wishbone
Maybe You Can Owe Me
Do The Whirlwind
In Case We Die (parts 1-4)
The Cemetary
Frenchy, I'm Faking
Need To Shout
Rendezvous: Potrero Hill
What's In Store?

Amazon.com

This free-ranging octet from Australia has brought forth their second album and it's a veritable funhouse adventure. Experimental, but gently so, their diverse instrumentation and varied approaches to vocal presentations (theatrical character voices, choirs, rock band exuberance) make for a listening experience akin to someone's perfectly cerebral mix tape. The opening song alone sets the stage for all that follows, constructed like an overture, one theme and setting gives way to another. Much like the parable of three blind men trying to describe an elephant, if three different listeners heard three different songs from this wonderful album, there still would be no complete description possible. --David Greenberger

Customer Reviews:

surprising.......2007-03-03

i saw aih open for cyhsy last year in san francisco. at first, i thought they were a horrible flashback to the 80's with random outfits. but soon after, i found them to be upbeat and fun. they had such energy on stage as they do in this album. i can listen to the songs over and over. my favorites are nevereverdid, it's 5!, maybe you can owe me, do the whirlwind, in case we die, and the cemetary (which is really cute). their show was quite entertaining. after every other song, the band members switched over positions onstage along with corresponding instruments. it was friday the 13th, so they played off on it by opening up a black umbrella, breaking a mirror (i can't remember what else), all whilst reading a scary tale and playing some spooky background music. plus, you can't help but dance along with them while they are playing.

i got both this cd and their previous one, this one is much better. and actually, they were TONS better live than cyhcy.

Arty-texture in Alice Springs?.......2006-11-08

Crikey!!!! What is this chunder? Wait a minute....art students from "Down Under" get together and make fun little songs while watching reruns of "The Wiggles", decide they can market these tunes to an adoring fan base! Yeah, this stuff could be the soundtrack to "Forrest Gump" alright. "Run, Forrest, run! Run as fast as you can from this crap!!!" And these guys are touring, too? Are they touring with Barney & Friends?

There is not one thing of value to this other than that the CD itself makes a handy coaster for your Foster's...

Annoying.......2006-11-01

This is probably one of the most annoyingly worst albums I've ever heard in my life.
What is this?
If you like this, than like it.
But I just can't see what situation I'd ever be in that could call for something as annoying as this.
In the woods? Nope
In my car? Nope
On the ocean? Nope
I really just can't figure this kind of music out. and I listen to wacked out music...but...I don't know man.
It may be a New England thing or something.
Yo. I found this really cute album. Oh....ohhhh....yeeah.
Worst ever.

Fun & talented.......2006-10-11

Another great offering from the Aussie kids. Once you hear it a few more times you realize that the music is more complex than it sounds. Great fun!

Amazing.......2006-05-29

Architecture is now officially one of my top five favorite bands. I think I have heard a lot of bands, too. Their music, on the surface, sounds childlike, but listen closer and you can here an incredibly complex compilation of instruments which congeal into a "simple" sound. In other words, this is one tight band. I just saw them live in SF, and I can safely say it was the best concert I have ever been to. They have so much fun with their music that it oozes from every note of their album. "In Case We Die" is much more ambitious then "Fingers Crossed", but they pull off an excellent collection of songs which are universally catchy and endlessly entertaining to listen to. The biggest complaint that one will read about the album is that there is an enormous amount of creative and beautiful ideas in each song which are expressed once and never show up again, except when you listen to the song all the way through once more. This makes for a high degree of replayability for the album, because it almost seems like you're hearing it for the first time everytime.

Average customer rating:

Nevereverdid

In Case We Die
Architecture in Helsinki
Manufacturer: Inertia
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B0007S68BA
Release Date: 2005-08-15

Tracks:

Neverevereverdid
It'5!
Tiny Paintings
Wishbone
Maybe You Can Owe Me
Do the Whirlwind
In Case We Die, Pts. 1-4
Cemetery
Frenchy, I'm Faking
Need to Shout
Rendezvous: Portero Hill
What's in Store?

Album Description

ARCHITECTURE IN HELSINKI hail from Fitzroy in Melbourne, and 'IN CASE WE DIE' is the anticipated follow up to their debut album, 'FINGERS CROSSED' from 2002. Includes the single "Do The Whirlwind".The band's musical arsenal is big, featuring instruments as diverse as analog synths and samplers, glockenspiel, tuba, clarinet, and recorder along with the more traditional drums, bass, and guitar. Inertia Records. 2005.

Album Details

Architecture in Helsinki Hail from Fitzroy in Melbourne, and 'in Case We Die' is He Anticipated Follow Up to their Debut Album, 'fingers Crossed' from 2002. Includes the Single "do the Whirlwind". The Band's Musical Arsenal is Big, featuring Instruments as Diverse as Analog Synths and Samplers, Glockenspiel, Tuba, Clarinet, and Recorder Along with the More Traditional Drums, Bass, and Guitar.

Customer Reviews:

Nevereverdid.......2005-04-30

Smash together the Fiery Furnaces and the Arcade Fire, with a dash of the Polyphonic Spree's tweeness. That pretty much describes the sound of Architecture in Helsinki's second album, "In Case We Die." Well, fortunately these guys don't suffer from the sophomore slump.

This octet hails from Melbourne, but they sound a lot like the Furnaces, with their adventurous everything-but-the-kitchen-sink pop, handclaps and unpretentious bits and bobs. It's obvious from the start that this is no typical catchy pop album -- "Nevereverdid" is a bouncy maelstrom of twee guitar, desperate vocals and a shouted chorus.

"It'5" continues that trend, but then things switch gears into gently cluttered ballads -- expect piano, drums and accordion -- and unabashedly weird pop tunes with tambourines, synth, horns and rippling piano. There's even an Indian-flavoured ska/dance tune. All bets are off. All rules are broken here, and the results are never predictable.

Perhaps Architecture In Helsinki is often compared to the Fiery Furnaces because neither band fits easily into one category. "In Case We Die" is a head-scratcher -- it's too grounded to be twee, too bizarre to be pop, too soft to be rock, too straightforward to be psychedelica. And despite odd bits of new wave, there's no retro sound either.

Whatever it is, it's apparently dedicated to being fun and whimsical. Their pop music would be fun just because of its catchiness, but this band throws in every little pop flourish imaginable, and apparently every instrument they could get their hands on. One would expect a disaster, but somehow they manage to link all those sounds together.

A few songs initially seem over-the-top in their bubblegumness, but they manage to veer off into playfulness instead. Especially since none of the lyrics make sense -- except for the slightly dark finale ("Carve your name into my arm/cos I long to feel your name blood red"), the songwriting is what Lewis Carroll would have written, if he had been in a rock band. "Tonight the neon answers flare./Occasionally we stop and stare/past tiny paintings painted where/all the clouds were wrong."

A glorious little album full of crazy-quilt pop, "In Case We Die" is a triumph of indiepop insanity. It's crazy and lovin' it, and so will listeners.

Average customer rating:

Yawn
Nevereverdid

In Case We Die
Architecture in Helsinki
Manufacturer: Moshi Moshi
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Twee Pop | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Electronic Pop | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Australia & New Zealand | International | Styles | Music

Electronica | Dance & DJ | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000B5QDC8
Release Date: 2005-09-19

Tracks:

Neverevereverdid
It'5!
Tiny Paintings
Wishbone
Maybe You Can Owe Me
Do the Whirlwind
In Case We Die, Pts. 1-4
Cemetery
Frenchy, I'm Faking
Need to Shout
Rendezvous: Portero Hill
What's in Store?

Album Details

Customer Reviews:

Yawn.......2005-09-28

This album couldn't be more dull--I have no idea how anybody could consider this to be worth a listen. Unless one has a liking for pretentious, overproduced swill!

Nevereverdid.......2005-09-27