Architects of Grace - Hot White Sun [Single]

Procession Recordings

September 30, 2009, 09:04 PM

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Architects of Grace originated as a solo dark-electronic project by frontman, Duncan Illing, in his flat, in London. Earlier this year, he decided to go in a different direction and with two new members, Architects of Grace went in a more New Wave direction.

'Hot White Sun' is a busy, but simple tune that won't get stuck in your head. It puts me in mind of a lot of very sweaty teenagers all wearing the same dark clothing, dancing in a half interested fashion, in a very small and very dark nightclub.

The guitar chugs away endlessly with only little nuances to determine the beginning of one section and the end of the last, as the singer pretends he's Morrissey and drones away unintelligibly. There's not much of a discernible verse and chorus, only a sporadic affirmation that there is, or maybe a "hot white sun" somewhere, possibly in the sky. The song ends with a flurry of the "hot white sun" lyric, as the guitars and drums remain constant, until the guitarist seems to get as bored as I am and appears to hang himself with the strings from his guitar.

'Hot White Sun' is followed by 'India.' A much slower and gothic song, this song has very few lyrics, groaned across the song, discussing a girl called India, as far as I'm aware, and sounds like the soundtrack to a bad horror film. The song is dull, not very well constructed and sounds amateurish. I've worked with college students who have impressed me more. Architects of Grace say they are influenced by bands like The Cure, Jesus and Mary Chain and Joy Division, and while I do hear elements that are similar, Architects of Grace don't even come close to any of the aforementioned bands.

The front man sounds like a bit of a cock, too. "I'm the front man and these are my songs but John and Carlos make up Architects of Grace live at this time." I don't know if this means that everything I'm hearing recorded is the work of Duncan, but he seems rather overprotective and overbearing, which makes me dislike him all the more, because what he's protecting, isn't that good.

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