Architecture (album)

Architecture is the third studio album by Spahn Ranch, released on April 8, 1997 by Cleopatra Records.[4] After original member Rob Marton parted from the band, Christian Death drummer David Glass, former Screams for Tina guitarist Kent Bancroft and drummer Harry Lewis joined the Spahn Ranch to further experiment with the band's fusion dark wave and industrial music.[5] Critic have called it one of Spahn Ranch's most influential and experimental albums for its incorporation of drum and bass, dub and live guitar.[6][7]

Architecture
Studio album by
Spahn Ranch
ReleasedApril 8, 1997 (1997-04-08)[1][2][3]
RecordedMay 1996 (1996-05) – January 1997 (1997-01)
StudioJLab Studio
(Los Angeles, California)
Genre
Length51:44
LabelCleopatra
Producer
Spahn Ranch chronology
In Parts Assembled Solely
(1996)		 Architecture
(1997)		 Retrofit EP
(1997)
Alternative cover
Architecture: Beta cover

Reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[8]

Aiding & Abetting compared praised the album for its expression of gothic music influences "The Coiled One anticipated the big gothic surge, and so Architecture is poised to cash in on the big electronic wave that is just now reaching shore."[9] Allmusic critic Mike Pfeiffer described it as the Spahn Ranch's strongest album and said "Architecture shows a departure from gloom and an embrace of intelligent electronic rhythm styles like drum'n'bass and electro."[8] Last Sigh Magazine said "this is somewhat of a departure from The Coiled One, but nevertheless a step ahead in Spahn Ranch's successful music" and "what is really excellent about this album is the instrumentals that Spahn Ranch provides the listener with."[10] A critic at Lollipop Magazine, Angela Dauthi, called the album an improvement over their previous work, saying "the songs take on electronica drum beats and fills while throwing in dissonant keyboard glissandos with cool, detached lyrics" and "while their last two albums had stripped everything down to a pumping beat and noisy vocals, Architecture takes a sharp left turn and punches the gas."[11] Option called the album "eminently listenable, even the darker Gothic tones are opened up, creating music that sounds more like songs than exercises in mood."[12] Critic Dave Thompson said "a cover of the Equals "Black Skinned Blue Eyed Boys" is positively ecstatic, pulsing sonics which throb with a literal passion" and "several tracks (most notably "Futurist Limited") echo elements of Depeche Mode, sans that band's congealing precociousness, while "Incubate" takes Hammer's "Can't Touch This" motif into Kraftwerkian territory to stunning effect."[13]

Chris Best of Lollipop Magazine gave the album a mixed review and said "there are some great tunes on this disc, but the electronica bits are stale and dated (as in techno circa 1990 or anything by 2 Unlimited)."[14] Sonic Boom criticized the album for being incohesive but said "a casual flip through all of the tracks provide for a dizzying array of genre hopping from trance, drum & bass, disco, ballads, to even a cover version of the Equals, 'Black Skinned Blue Eyed Boys'."[15]

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Athan Maroulis, except "Black Skinned Blue Eyed Boys" by Eddy Grant.

No.TitleMusicLength
1."Monochrome"
3:50
2."Black Skinned Blue Eyed Boys" (The Equals cover)Eddy Grant3:31
3."In the Aftermath"
  • Green
  • Maroulis
5:13
4."Futurist Limited"
  • Green
  • Maroulis
3:52
5."Incubate"Green4:04
6."Embodied"
  • Green
  • Maroulis
5:34
7."A Depression Glass"
  • Green
  • Maroulis
4:26
8."U Tell Em U"
5:27
9."Futurist Unlimited"
  • Green
  • Maroulis
4:26
10."Laurels"
  • Green
  • Maroulis
5:17
11."The Catalyst"
  • Green
  • Maroulis
4:03
12."Solace"Green2:02
Architecture: Beta bonus tracks[16]
No.TitleMusicLength
13."Heretic's Fork"
4:43
14."Locusts"
  • Green
  • Maroulis
3:59
15."Vortex"
  • Green
  • Maroulis
4:07
16."The Judas Cradle"
  • Green
  • Maroulis
3:56
17."Static Detonates the Gel"Green3:32

Accolades
Year Publication Country Accolade Rank
1996CMJ New Music MonthlyUnited States "Top 25 Dance"7[17]
"*" denotes an unordered list.

Personnel

Adapted from the Architecture liner notes.[18]

Spahn Ranch

Additional performers

Production and design

Release history
Region Date Label Format Catalog
United States 1997 Cleopatra CD CLP 9977
Out Of Line/Sub/Mission OUT 016, CD WHIP 036

References
  1. Wilson, Elliot (May 1997). "Hip-Hop: Just Out". CMJ New Music Monthly. CMJ Network, Inc. (45): 55. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
  2. Barnhart, Becky (2000). "Schwann Spectrum". Schwann Spectrum. Stereophile, Incorporated. 9 (2): 246. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
  3. Fletcher, Tony; Robbins, Ira (1997). Spahn Ranch. The Trouser Press Guide to '90s Rock. McFarland & Company. p. 764. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
  4. "Spahn Ranch: Architecture". Keyboard. GPI Publications. 23 (7–12): 13. 1997. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
  5. Wilson, MacKenzie. "Spahn Ranch > Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
  6. Yücel, Ilker (April 3, 2018). "Cleopatra Records Re-releasing 1997 Album From Spahn Ranch". ReGen. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
  7. Finkler, Ed (April 22, 1997). "Interview with Spahn Ranch". Sonic Boom. 5 (4). Retrieved August 17, 2020.
  8. Pfeiffer, Mike. "Spahn Ranch: Architecture > Review". Allmusic. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
  9. Worley, Jon (April 14, 1997). "Spahn Ranch: Architecture". Aiding & Abetting (132). Retrieved August 17, 2020.
  10. colmnist (March 13, 1999). "Spahn Ranch: Architecture". Last Sigh Magazine. Archived from the original on May 14, 2008. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
  11. Dauthi, Angela (April 1, 1998). "Spahn Ranch – Architecture – Review". Lollipop Magazine. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
  12. Pedersen, Erik (1997). "Spahn Ranch: Architecture". Option. Sonic Options Network. 77–81: 118. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
  13. Thompson, David (November 1, 2000). Spahn Ranch: Architecture. Alternative Rock: Third Ear – The Essential Listening Companion. Miller Freeman, Inc. pp. 648–649. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
  14. Best, Chris (April 1, 1997). "Spahn Ranch – Architecture – Review". Lollipop Magazine. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
  15. Christian, Chris (May 1997). "Spahn Ranche: Architecture". Sonic Boom. 5 (4). Retrieved August 17, 2020.
  16. "Spahn Ranch: Architecture: Beta > Overview". AllMusic. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
  17. Haslett, Tim (July 1997). "Dance Top 25". CMJ New Music Monthly. CMJ Network, Inc. (47): 50. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
  18. Architecture (booklet). Spahn Ranch. Marina Del Rey, California: Cleopatra Records. 1997.CS1 maint: others (link)
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