Architecture in Helsinki That Beep

By now, That Beep is old hat - the song’s been available for download nearly everywhere since the end of last year. Regardless, Architecture in Helsinki has now decided to release That Beep as an EP through Polyvinyl Records, and they’ve wrapped it up in a pretty new package, complete with three separate remixes of the song.

I, for one, have no idea what meaning the name Architecture in Helsinki is supposed to hold. But for all my ignorance, the band seems to be equally as clueless as to its own titular origins. AiH once commented that “the name means having to answer many questions and inquiries about the name, which I guess, is entirely understandable” – confirming either that A) the name is a shallow moniker that lacks any real significance, or B) it's in fact so significant that it transcends comprehension. However, being ambiguously significant has never seemed to bother the band much, as it continues to prove on That Beep. No doubt, the song’s lyrics are the swan song of a relationship that’s “lasted way too long,” presenting a speaker who’s unsuccessfully “tried a little bit of moving on” before realizing she’s “bubblegum,” stuck to the shoe of a lost love. That being said, I’m lost as to what “that beep” actually is. Fortunately, I have my suspicions that AiH doesn’t know either. One thing is for sure, though – someone else has it, and they want it. 

What’s scary is – after listening to That Beep on loop, allowing the track to furtively take captive my mind and my memory – I think I've started to want it too. If you’ve visited AiH’s MySpace anytime recently, you may have noticed the band's tangible enthusiasm about That Beep – in fact, four of its last five blog posts feature the song title somewhere in the topic – and their excitement isn’t exactly unfounded. In case you forgot, That Beep will remind you why electropop is cool. Well, perhaps not cool, per se…but fun. You know, in that, “I’ll dance when no one’s looking” sort of way. That kind of fun. Unfortunately, the three remixes have very little new to offer, causing them to seem too much like filler thrown in to justify a full-blown release. Unless you're absolutely jonesing for some fresh material from your favorite Aussie popsters, don’t waste your money on this one. Save yourself a couple bucks, check it out online.