ALBUM REVIEW: Architrave - Panic Joy
*This review originally appeared in our June 2025 issue*
“It is beautifully spooky, but when Jennifer Mahar Coleman’s vocals enter, it becomes an ethereal masterpiece.”
As I sat down to listen to the new Architrave album, Panic Joy, it was unseasonably cold and pouring rain. Needless to say, the ambience of the weather didn't exactly have me in an upbeat mood, which made me a little nervous going into this, as I didn’t want my cloudy disposition to negatively affect my review.
What did happen was unexpected and welcoming.
Not only did my sour mood not affect my listening, but a transformation happened over the first couple of songs that I found worth noting. “Autofill”, the opening track, starts with a droning synth note and complex electronic beat that immediately seemed to give my mood a soundtrack. Not to compare it to another piece of work, but it made me feel the same way I do when watching the movie Blade Runner. Blade Runner is an undeniably dark and foreboding film, but once the soundscape by Vangelis is added, the whole feel of the movie just makes sense.
That is how “Autofill” felt. Like it was giving me permission to be a little somber and reflective. I began to feel comfortable with my current mood, but soon realized what was happening was that I was witnessing my mood shift in real time. By the time the five-minute opener was done, I was looking out the window with an almost admiration of the rain, thankful for its existence and how it was signifying the end of a harsh winter.
Right when I was starting to feel like I had figured out this record from one song and was assuming this would be my mellow soundtrack of the day, track two throws a wonderful wrench in my plan.
“Unconditional Love” bursts right in with hand claps and a driving synth lead. It lets you know immediately that sitting still is absolutely not an option. Since I was at my desk in the Dazzle Den with nobody around, I took the opportunity to throw in a couple of clumsy dance moves, before thinking to myself, “Wasn’t I in a bad mood like three minutes ago?”
I had been, but was certainly not now.
I admittedly don’t know a ton about electronica music, but the complicated riff at the intro of “Aurora” really caught me off guard. It almost sounds as if two keyboards are having a conversation. One with a clean, Wurlitzer vibe, and the other a fuzzy synth. The syncopation between them would suggest a conflict, but once the steady tap of the hi-hat comes in, Architrave (Jennifer Mahar Coleman and Paul Coleman) once again prove their skill for making things fit, and quite simply having them make sense.
The guitar-driven “Verelle” may be my choice for a standout track. It is beautifully spooky, but when Jennifer’s vocals enter, it becomes an ethereal masterpiece. I typically do my reviews upon first listen, without repeating any songs, but I had to pause my writing and give this one another listen.
The competent songwriting and musicianship from the duo has never been more evident than on this collection of songs. Every track offers something different while retaining enough of a throughline to keep the songs cohesive within the context of an album. I’ve said it before, and I mean it everytime, but the 518 has talent that should be recognized nationally.
Architrave is without a doubt a band that should be heard on such a level. They are just that good, and Panic Joy is further proof.
Panic Joy is available everywhere now.
