Rockin’ Our Turntable: Architecture

By Sarah Cobarrubias in Arts & Entertainment on Mar 31, 2011 4:20PM

Chicago dream-pop project Architecture caught our attention last year with the release of a soft and sweet cover of R. Kelly’s “Pregnant”, and then turned our heads again a few months ago when they teased us with a couple new singles from their upcoming debut EP, When We Were Young. Now, nearly six months after recording the EP, they’re finally ready to share it.

The 6-song EP mingles electronic and live instrumentation with delicate, vocal harmonies for a sound that’s both flirtatious and eerie. “The Chant,” for example, opens the album with a steady, hypnotic melody before layering on buzzing synth, chanted vocals and some playful tambourine and maraca in the background. But Architecture saves the best for last. The album’s closing track, “Empty Bones,” begins gloomy and slow, builds up into a drone wall of sound, then changes course and ends with a refreshing frolic of acoustic, keyboard and choral “la di das.”

The project began as a duo spawned from Panda Riot - Melissa Harris was once a member and Rebecca Scott still is. But When We Were Young shows them departing from Panda Riot’s dreamy, danceable electronic pop and moving instead toward subtly menacing experimental pop. Since recording the EP, the 2-piece has transformed into a trio with the addition of bassist Erin Dorr. This clearly won’t be reflected in their upcoming release, but it may add a new dimension to their live performance and future material.

You can catch the band perform live April 22 at Subterranean, along with Very Truly Yours, Calm Palm Vapor, Eula, and North by North. You can also sample When We Were Young at Architecture’s listening party next Saturday, April 9 (its release date) at The Whistler. Along with playing the new EP, they’ll be DJing and giving away some free gifts.

The When We Were Young Listening Party is Saturday, April 9 at the Whistler, 2421 N Milwaukee, 5 p.m., FREE, 21+

Architecture performs Friday, April 22 at Subterranean, 2011 W North, 9 p.m., $8, 21+