PHOTO COURTESY OF FANATIC PROMOTIONS, INC. Architecture In Helsinki have a quiet moment at the cemetery, but don't expect many more of such moments as the band brings its kinetic and fun sound to Solar Culture this Friday at 9 p.m.

Who are they?

An eight-piece band from Melbourne, Australia that couple the noise and the funk with their uniquely spastic take on pop music for a sound altogether unique. Lead architect Cameron Bird was befuddled while trying to define his band's sound.

"Essentially we're a pop band," he said. "I don't know though. I really don't know how to answer that question." After hearing their latest album "In Case We Die," the feeling might be mutual for most listeners. All the typical pop instruments (guitar, bass, keys) come together with some rather nontraditional instruments (musical saw, tuba, hand and power tools) to create a frenetic sound that is as pleasing as it is indefinable. The musical decathlon of Architecture in Helsinki surely comes from their varied influences.

"We like everything from Wu Tang Clan to Top 40 to Tropicali," Bird said. One listen to the title-track "In Case We Die (Parts 1-4)" showcases these varied influences as sounds and movements come together and fall apart as the song shifts through its wonderfully ecstatic and bouncy parts in just over three-and-a-half minutes.

What are they promoting?

The band is currently touring in support of "In Case We Die," an album that has recently been hailed by critics from The New York Times to Pitchforkmedia. The album's success has been a pleasant surprise for Bird, who finds not having a set songwriting process freeing.

"We don't really have a formula because it's impossible to have that with eight people who are all scattered and different," Bird said. "Mostly, I'll write the songs and then we'll all write bits and pieces and bring it together. Not having a formula though is nice, because it keeps it interesting and it keeps it fresh and it means we don't get stuck in a rut."

The band is on the cusp of having an Arcade Fire breakout year, which will likely bring the mainstream media calling. While Bird is not necessarily opposed to getting their music out to larger audiences, he is savvy about avoiding exploitation.

"Whatever happens, happens. We go with the flow, really," Bird said. "It's funny that those companies in Australia and America are leaning towards using indie music because they can get those songs cheap. It's kind of exploiting, but at the same time it's great that they are using that music because it gives those artists incomes that they otherwise wouldn't have had. However, it is a bit dubious in many ways because they think they can just kind of like sidestep what they'd pay someone like Bruce Springsteen."

Where will they be?

The band will be playing their first Arizona shows in Tucson (Solar Culture) and Phoenix (Modified) this week. The shows will be some of the last of an extensive 31 date U.S. tour before the band heads over to England and Europe. In true indie-style, the band will tour much of next year and record when they find the time.

"We'll be touring for the next six months," Bird said. "Some in Japan and Europe and then back here [America] again in the fall. Then maybe some recording here and there. We have our own studio, so it's really flexible. We can kind of do whatever we want whenever we want. We can just chip away with a song here and there."

Having only passed through a Phoenix airport, Bird is excited to be coming to Arizona, but the band is conscious about the state's biggest problem: the weather.

"We're scared about how hot it's going to be," Bird said. "Where we're from it gets really hot, but not humid, so we can deal with heat, just not humidity."

On the whole, the American tour has been a positive experience for the band, which has been here only once before.

"We played last year, before our first album came out," Bird said. "So we really didn't have much semblance of a fan-base."

Bird is excited to tour the States again behind the torrent of praise surrounding "In Case We Die." He also finds playing in America a more enriching experience than the band's gigs down under.

"In Australia there's sort of five major cities," Bird said. "You do an Australian tour and you do, like, 10 shows and you've pretty much played everywhere and that's in a country as big as America. So, to play anywhere you have to drive so far. Whereas here [America] you can hop in a car and drive a couple hours and play in a whole different city."

Why should you go?

Aside from the countless reasons to see this concert; e.g. dangerously talented foreign band, eight members scrambling around Solar Culture's tight stage, the chance to see a musical saw live; Bird's humility is equally inspiring and admirable.

"I didn't start playing music until I was like 20," Bird said. "I never really foresaw being in a band. I just had a girlfriend who played guitar, so I started playing guitar and I wrote some songs and got a band together. I never foresaw that we'd go to America more than once to play, so it's been really awesome."

His band mates share in Bird's bright-eyed enthusiasm and are sure to put on one of Tucson's most fun, energetic and entertaining live shows of the summer. So, really, why not?

The band plays Solar Culture on Friday with Bark Bark Bark opening the all ages show at 9 p.m. Tickets are $7.