Melbourne is one of the most splendid cities in the world, and certainly one of the most livable. With its proximity to some fantastic natural areas, along with a thriving city that offers an amazing array of attractions and artistic output, there is a great life here for the locals.  It is also a magnificent city to visit, offering something wonderful for guests of all ages.  It’s a great place to find a cool shopping boutique, an excellent bite to eat, and a spectacular hotel.  Melbourne, Australia has always been on the cutting edge of culture, and continues to inspire locals and tourists from all over the world.

It’s had a great history for cities on the cutting edges of music.  Drawing as wide a spectrum of artists as Olivia Newton-John to Nick Cave, there are many styles and sensibilities that play here, although today there are more traces of punk’s roots here than pop.  These styles do come together in a way that is absolutely modern, however, with Architecture in Helsinki.  This band has been enjoying an international reputation for a few years, and their lively performances attract almost as much attention as the recorded music.  There is a precision here that is impeccable, and highly contagious.  The band members all play different kinds of electronic instruments, and can also play the old school instruments with equal flair and gusto.

This is pop music, possibly, but it’s pop music for intellectuals, in a sense, with an exciting liveliness that is undercut by a subtle but persistent sense of irony.  This attitude is absolutely post-punk, and makes sense for a generation left making sense after we all agreed not to make sense any longer.  There is a sensibility that’s for sale here, and it goes along with the pulsing rhythms that are impossible not to dance to, even if it’s with a bit of cynicism.  The band’s name, Architecture in Helsinki also demostrates a kind of sloppy smartness that speaks to post-punk aesthetics.  It was created without any experiences in the Finnish city – although they have played there now that they’ve become stars – but by putting words together cut from a newspaper.  This references Burroughs as well as Tzara and the invention of Dadaism.  But aside from the appeal of the historical references, it’s also just plain charming.  And delightful to see musicians who know where their roots are.

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