Architecture in Helsinki rose from the ashes of the High School band of Cameron Bird, Jamie Mildren and Sam Perry. Bird started writing songs at the turn of the century and convinced Perry and Mildren to help him flesh out his first set for live performance. Bird urgently needed a name for the band, so, he circled some words in a copy of The Age newspaper and did some magnetic poetry. In mid 2000, Bird met Kellie Sutherland at a party, she volunteered her musical services to the band at first playing clarinet. By the time Bird met James Cecil, Gus Franklin, Isobel Knowles and Tara Shackell whilst studying at RMIT University later that year, the band was well and truly taking shape.
"Fingers Crossed" (2002-2004):
After many discarded recording sessions and countless shows at North Fitzroy's Empress Hotel, the band locked down in their home studios for the best part of 2002 to make their debut album. The vast majority of the songs were written by Bird the week he returned from an extended holiday in the Pacific Northwest. Arrangements and production were labored over by the band in myriad of locations in and around their home town of Melbourne. Trifekta Records signed the band and released the record in February 2003. It wasn't released in the U.S. until March 2004 on Bar-None Records.
"In Case We Die" (2004-2006):
The band and associates leased a giant garage space in Melbourne's East Brunswick to record their Sophomore record. Work began on the record in June 2004 and Bird and Cecil worked day and night for 5 months on the production, enlisting dozens of guests to play on the record. Songs were primarily composed in the studio with Bird acting as some sort of mad professor with inter-band chemistry. In November, Tony Espie was hired In a bid to tame the record at the mixing desk. The band fell in love with his mixing style and studio demeanor when he worked on 'Do The Whirlwind', the record's lead single. The record was released in February 2005 in Australia on the band's own Tailem Bend imprint. Bar None Records released it in April 2005. It was the bands first release in Europe coming out in July 2005 on Moshi Moshi Records. In mid 2006, the band released a remix album entitled 'We Died, They Remixed' which featured a collection of their friends and contemporaries re-interpreting the songs of 'In Case We Die', This included Hot Chip, YACHT, New Buffalo, Mocky, Dat Politics, DJ Mehdi, Safety Scissors and Qua.
"Places Like This" (2006-2007):
At the end of touring In Case We Die in April 2006, Isobel Knowles and Tara Shackell left the band citing 'creative differences'. Bird decided to move to New York City to write for the third Architecture in Helsinki record. He demoed the songs in an apartment in South Williamsburg and worked on arrangements with the rest of the band via email and instant messaging conversations. In September 2006, the band convened in Los Angeles to play the songs for the first time. After a week of jamming they headed out on tour in support of Brooklyn band, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, to road test the new songs. To coincide with the end of the tour the band booked studio time at Stay Gold in Brooklyn with Engineer Chris Coady. The basic tracks were laid in the Stay Gold sessions in order to capture the energy of the band hot on the heels of the 25 show tour. The session was deemed a success, so Coady flew to Sydney's BJB Studios in December 2006 to finish the record. Bird and Coady put the finishing touches on the record back in New York in January 2007. The first single, Heart It Races, was released in May 2007. The album was released worldwide in July 2007.
"Moment Bends" (2008-2011):
After a few years of relentless touring. The band, now a 5 piece after the departure of Cecil, reconvened in Melbourne and set about the process of making a new record at a pace that was conducive to quality not insanity. They rented a space in East Brunswick which they set about renovating to better resemble a functional recording space. A giant photo mural of Lindsey Buckingham was erected on the studio wall to oversee proceedings and act as an inspiration for the record. The studio was named Buckingham Palace and the project was given the working title 'Vision Revision'. Longtime collaborator Francois Tetaz was brought in as producer, a move that instantly allowed the group to focus more on songwriting and ideas. The first fruits of this new endeavor came in November 2008 in the form of 'That Beep', the band's most accessible and commercially successful release to date. Meanwhile, back at Buckingham Palace, Moment Bends was beginning to take shape. The band had Engineer and Auxiliary member, Haima Marriott, working around the clock for the best part of 18 months between touring and various trips into Inspiration Hiatus. The songs were much more detailed and focused, the band was said to have searched for it's essence. On January 31 2011, It was announced that 'Moment Bends' would finally see the light of day in April 2011, almost 4 years after the release of 'Places Like This'.
2014
AIH released the album "Now + 4EVA" on April 1, 2014. the most popular tracks from the album are "Dream a Little Crazy" (written by the band) and "When You Walk in the Room" (the Jackie DeShannon classic).
Tours:
The band have toured heavily throughout Australia, U.S.A., U.K. and Europe playing festivals such as Coachella, Sasquatch, Sound Relief, Big Day Out, SxSW, Primavera, GTM, Pukkelpop and Haldern.
Architecture in Helsinki have toured/played with - David Byrne, Dr Dog, Death Cab For Cutie, YACHT, The Go-Betweens, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Santigold, Glass Candy, The Presets, Black Moth Super Rainbow, Au Revoir Simone, Field Music, Lo Fi Fnk, Yo La Tengo, Polyphonic Spree and múm.
The band have be known to DJ regularly, supporting acts such as YACHT and Hot Chip, also throwing their own party called 'Eye Do' on New Year's Eve 2009 in Melbourne. They also curated a DJ stage at Laneway Festival in Australia in 2011.
Heart It Races
Architecture in Helsinki Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Heart it races
And we go back to where we moved out to the places
Heart it races
I bought it in a can and stirred it with my fingers singing
Boom dah dah dah dah dah
Boom dah dah dah dah
Threw it out the window
Boom dah dah dah dah dah
Boom dah dah dah dah
Legs like little splinters
And we're slow to acknowledge the knots in the laces
Heart it races
And we go back to where we moved out to the places
Heart it races
I sold it to a man and threw him out the window, he went
Boom dah dah dah dah dah
Boom dah dah dah dah
Made his wife a widow
Heart it races tonight, heart it races tonight
Heart it races tonight, heart it races tonight
Heart it races tonight, heart it races tonight
Heart it races tonight, heart it races tonight
Heart it races tonight, heart it races tonight
Heart it races tonight, heart it races tonight
Heart it races tonight, heart it races tonight
Heart it races tonight, heart it races tonight
Boom dah dah dah dah dah
Boom dah dah dah dah
Boom dah dah dah dah dah
Boom dah dah dah dah
Boom dah dah dah dah dah
Boom dah dah dah dah
Boom dah dah dah dah dah
Boom dah dah dah dah
Boom dah dah dah dah dah
Boom dah dah dah dah
Boom dah dah dah dah dah
Boom dah dah dah dah
Boom dah dah dah dah dah
Boom dah dah dah dah
Boom dah dah dah dah dah
Boom dah dah dah dah
Boom dah dah dah dah dah
Boom dah dah dah dah
Boom dah dah dah dah dah
Boom dah dah dah dah
Boom dah dah dah dah dah
Boom dah dah dah dah (heart it races)
Boom dah dah dah dah dah
Boom dah dah dah dah
Boom dah dah dah dah dah
Boom dah dah dah dah
Boom dah dah dah dah dah
Boom dah dah dah dah
Boom dah dah dah dah dah
Boom dah dah dah dah (heart it races)
Boom dah dah dah dah dah
Boom dah dah dah dah
Boom!
The song "Heart It Races" by Architecture in Helsinki is a quirky and upbeat track that discusses the complications of love and relationships. The lyrics describe the knots in the laces of a relationship, which the individuals involved are slow to acknowledge. Despite the complications, the heart races and they go back to the places where they began. The use of "heart it races" throughout the song emphasizes the racing emotions and excitement involved in relationships.
The lyrics also feature random and nonsensical phrases such as "bought it in a can and stirred it with my fingers" and "legs like little splinters." These phrases contribute to the overall whimsical tone of the song and make it more enjoyable to listen to. The line "I sold it to a man and threw him out the window, he went, made his wife a widow" adds a dark and unexpected twist to the song.
Overall, "Heart It Races" is a fun and catchy song that explores the complexities of relationships and features unique and interesting lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
And we're slow to acknowledge the knots in the laces
We don't always recognize the problems or complications in our lives, and sometimes it takes us a while to realize something is wrong or needs fixing.
Heart it races
The heart is beating fast, indicating nervousness or anxiety, perhaps due to the aforementioned knots in the laces.
And we go back to where we moved out to the places
We revisit our past, where we used to live or exist, maybe in an attempt to find something we lost or left behind.
I bought it in a can and stirred it with my fingers singing
I obtained something in a way that perhaps wasn't the most conventional, and even the process of acquiring it was a bit odd or unconventional.
Boom dah dah dah dah dah
Boom dah dah dah dah
Nonsensical, almost like a verbal shoulder shrug, expressing confusion or uncertainty.
Threw it out the window
Getting rid of whatever was in the can in a careless way, perhaps because it wasn't important or valuable to begin with.
Lately you been tanned, suspicious for the winter with your
Boom dah dah dah dah dah
Boom dah dah dah dah
Legs like little splinters
You've been acting a bit odd lately, maybe even suspicious, and it's making me uncomfortable. Your physical appearance has changed, and it's not necessarily for the better.
I sold it to a man and threw him out the window, he went
Boom dah dah dah dah dah
Boom dah dah dah dah
Made his wife a widow
I got rid of something/someone in a violent, careless way with little regard for consequences. This caused harm and loss to someone else.
Heart it races tonight, heart it races tonight
...
The fast beating of the heart continues, signaling an ongoing anxiety or uneasiness.
Boom!
A sudden loud burst, perhaps as an exclamation of frustration or aggression.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Cameron Bird
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Scipio Africanus
Heard this on the radio yesterday for the first time in a decade and the waves of nostalgia were so strong I felt like I was tripping. Love this song truly a great one.
alfred corona
No other band is ever going to make me feel the way this band does.
Brad
WOW Just letting the creators of this know this song lives rent free in my mind constantly. This song came to me during an extremely fun and happy time in my life. I will never forget it.
Zoe the Calico
Me too, Brad. Me too. :)
High school band for me! I've been listening to it for 15 years now.
cool guy
1:08 gives me goosebumps. It’s like flashing scenes of nature through my head
WiggaTriggaTV
Architecture is incredible. You really can't believe how great music is out there once you detach the umbilical cord of the radio. I saw them live in San Francisco with Yacht and Still Flying and I stood right underneath that chick. In fact, the bassist stood over me on the speaker and dripped sweat all over me! They are incredible. Look up their Pirate Babies-produced music video.
Cherry Delrosario
I too fell in love with the Dr Dog version and when I heard this original, I thought it was so abrasive! After listening to it again and again it has grown on me so much that I LOVE it! It's so full of fun and excitement–I can't help but dance! The Dr Dog version is slow and sultry and just as good, just a COMPLETELY different vibe. We should be celebrating the wonder that is music, that such different versions of one song can both be amazing and inspiring in their own ways. I LOVE MUSIC!
yaiirable
its like i wrote that message and sent it in the past
Astrid Fisher
I think you have to listen to this song twice to really hear it. The first time, I was like "wtf"? Now the second time I'm tuned into whatever magic is happening here. It's funny how the brain works like that. I still like the dr. Dog one. But this has it's own great qualities and style
Joshua Sinclair
This reminds me of when Jose Gonzales covered Heartbeats by The Knife.