Cross Bones Style!

Advantages: Melodic and pretty and childish and goofy
Disadvantages: It's pretty much an acquired taste, like Flamin' Hot Monster Munch

...Architecture in Helsinki are a toy instrument toting, highly melodic group from Australia. Their debut album, Fingers Crossed, showcases their primary draw; their ability to take the essence of a big-band piece and boil it down and make it sound like a group of overexcited preschoolers have got their hands on it. The arrangements are careful, focused, but sound as if they're flying all over the place. They make big music sound smaller, more friendly, less imposing, and they manage to make it more fun than it's ever been before. Made up of eight Australians, the band were formed on the basis of being a folk-punk band, yet after visiting the US lead singer Cameron Bird decided to change tack completely. They moved towards a happier sound, with shorter songs and more emphasis on melody, the idea being that they could use the tunes to hide...

Seresecros 12.05.2007 (15.05.2008) · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of Fingers Crossed - Architecture In Helsinki

Music for 6 Year Olds!

Advantages: Bouncy, enjoyable
Disadvantages: One filler track (?)

...Architecture in Helsinki were a band I came across due to a recommendation from a friend. In swapping our new music discoveries she lent me their album ?In Case We Die?. The title sounds pretty morbid, but don?t worry its nothing depressing. Rather in fact the opposite. Architecture in Helsinki are a band that play a mixture of instruments, rather akin to Arcade Fire, but with a twist that makes them sound more like the Go! Team. What I mean to say is that they sound like a bunch of 6 year olds who?ve been let loose in the music storeroom (but obviously with a little bit more structure than that!). The album, ?In Case We Die?, is on the whole an upbeat recording with some classics like ?It?5? and ?Wishbone?. It?s the kind of music that makes a summer day seem even brighter and reminds you of great nights out in the winter...

tac20 16.08.2007 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of In Case We Die [Digipak] - Architecture In Helsinki

Our Family Playset Filled With Sparkly Cake

Advantages: Nuttily good fun, always enjoyable, great pop songs
Disadvantages: The schizo nature of the music

...For their first album, the charming "Fingers Crossed", Architecture In Helsinki propelled themselves into the music industry with all the enthusiasm of a bunch of "overexcited preschoolers", as I described them (check out me reviewz!!). Their music was inspired by bands like The Beach Boys, taking the breezy lite-rock music that Brian's boys used to put out and twisting it by making the whole thing sound like it had been recorded by a school choir, replacing guitars with glockenspiels and mellotrons with a bloke who played a recorder. For their second album, "In Case We Die", the Aussie band have grown up. But don't fear, all ye who liked their childish ways, because they've grown up all of five years. They're out of infant school now, and moving on into the heady world of junior school. The band members sound more accomplished...

Seresecros 03.12.2007 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of In Case We Die [Digipak] - Architecture In Helsinki

Helsinki - a few ideas.

Advantages: It's a 'different' place to visit!!
Disadvantages: Seems expensive!!

...Have spent over 20 weeks here during the last 12 months. We?ve spent time in Denmark and Sweden before, so we were surprised to find the culture so different, maybe it?s because of it?s long land border with Russia. Getting from the airport. For 3 or more people a taxi is probably about the same price as buses. The Finnair bus goes from the airport to the railway station, but the locals use the 615 from the next stand, it takes about 10 minutes longer as it?s the local bus service, but still goes to the railway station and is currently about a third cheaper. Do get a copy of Helsinki This Week from your hotel or the main Tourist Information Centre near the Harbour. The main events and information are now online at the Tourist Information (www.hel.fi.tourism) and Helsinki Expert (www.helsinkiexpert.fi) websites. In...

meagainxyz 09.02.2005 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Helsinki (Finland)

Helsinki Vantaa - Europes Best?

Advantages: Easy structured
Disadvantages: Nothing I?d know

...My flight to Helsinki was the most adventurous in my life. It was my first flight on my own and I was about to stay 3 winter months in Finland for a traineeship. Until, I only knew the airport in Frankfurt / Germany which is not really famous for his clarity. You can imagine, I was nervous... There was no reason for my fear. The airport (lento-asema in finish by the way) is very small (some years ago it did win the price as the most clear airport in Europe) and very clear structured. In July 2003 the main terminal was finished and is about 1.000 m² big. The airport Helsinki-Vantaa is about 1/2 Stunde from the City of Helsinki (about 19 km) and about 25 km from Tapiola in Espoo. For 4,90 ? the bus takes you from the airport to the centre of Helsinki. And Helsinki is worth at least a weekend trip! Direct bus connections are...

Nicole78 03.09.2003 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Airport Helsinki-Vantaa

Biking in Helsinki

Advantages: best, cheapest and easiest way to get around
Disadvantages: some people like to damage everything

...The city of Helsinki is rather small compared to the much bigger capitals of other European countries, but it is full of wonderful sites and sights and the second best way to get around is to take the number 8 tram. It has not only got the number 8, but it is going around the city in a big 8 and you can even have a guided tour in English without being charged seperately. Do the trip (about one hour) and then start to conquer the city on your own - by bike. You don´t intend to bring a bike? Well, you need not! On 25 stands all around the city you can get a bike. You only have to insert a 10 markka piece into a slot and you can use the bike as long as you want, at least for one day. When you want to get rid of the bike you only have to find another stand, park the bike there and take the coin out of the slot. But, please, be a little...

minae 11.07.2001 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Getting around in Helsinki

Drifting around Helsinki

Advantages: Some comedy amongst the tragedy, quirky
Disadvantages: Some will find it too depressing and dull

...Ilona and Lauri both have reasonably good jobs in Helsinki: Ilona is a head waiter, Lauri is a tram driver. Then they both get made redundant within a few weeks of each other. Lauri refuses to sign on and, already in debt, they are plunged into despair. Searching for jobs is no easy feat, especially when Lauri finds out that he is deaf in one ear and will never be able to drive again. Can they come to terms with their predicament, or will it be the ruin of their relationship? Directed by famous Finnish director Aki Kaurismaki, Drifting Clouds is typical of many of his films - it provides a depressing view of Finland and the Finnish, interspersed with a little unexpected and gentle humour. Having said that, I think that this film is a little more vibrant than most. There are the usual long, expressionless faces, but there is a lot more...

sunmeilan 01.10.2009 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Drifting Clouds (DVD)

a tough course for passionate people

Advantages: RIBA 1, 2 exemption, freedom of expression, combined Masters degrees, safe campus, facilities, environment
Disadvantages: disorganized, location, distance from central London

...Architecture in general, is certainly one of the toughest and longest courses to study. If you don't have a passion for it, if you value your time more than your discipline, or if you are thinking about taking a degree in general without any special interest, then you should consider following a direction other than this. I've been a student n East London University for the past 3 1/2 years. Therefore, I do belong in the "UEL Vilage" (as we informally call our small community), and I can easily give you my opinion about that. Structure of course: 3 years ft Bsc honours & RIBA part1 exemption + one year out work experience (optional, but counts later for the part 3 qualification) +2 years ft Diploma in Architecture modules: main design unit (main project) supporting studies: technical & environmental studies...

demetrak 14.04.2006 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Architecture

I loved it - by the Finnish

Advantages: Great architecture, good food, lots to do
Disadvantages: Closure of many attractions in the off season, expensive by UK prices

...Helsinki was not my choice. My partner had for a long time wanted to visit Finland's capital (he collects capital cities) and so I treated him for his 40th birthday. I wasn't against the idea, I just didn't really know anything about the place. We did buy a Lonely Planet well in advance of the trip but since we were also planning to visit Estonia my mind was focused more on my beloved Eastern Europe than on Finland. All I set out with was my pre-conceived idea of a very modern and forward-thinking city in the Scandinavian model; I did not expect much in the way of history, certainly not in the capital though I knew that Helsinki is a city with a strong maritime background. There is a band called "Architecture in Helsinki"; I don't know much about them other than that I have often thought it a good name. Having now seen much...

fizzytom 05.10.2007 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of Helsinki (Finland)

You can't afford to miss Helsinki!

Advantages: friendly feeling, very relaxed
Disadvantages: increasing property prices

...Helsinki is a small-big city. Indeed it is the capital of Finland, the population is very small (about 1 million). This makes the city a good place to relax. The city has a lot to offer for tourists. For example endless art galleries (see the Kiasma! Truly modern art, and a building to go with the same theme!), the Helsinki week during every summer (everything to do with art, and good chance to party, its like a carnical!) and some nice bars and clubs to visit. Some special places you must visit: * Suomenlinna – an island outside Helsinki (a ferry goes from the central of Helsinki), good family fun in the summer, loads of young people enjoy the sun and sea… * Kaivopuisto – a park in the heart of the town, don’t miss the huge concerts in the summer! Nice boats in the seaside, benji jumping etc. * Shopping – many good quality shopping...

Annukka 18.10.2000 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Helsinki in general