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My first reaction after listening to this album is simple. So I am going to keep this review relatively simple. This is excellent study music! I say this because I was thrashing this throughout my studies today, or actually marking student's work, because I teach at college level. I got the marking done and enjoyed the music so it achieved its purpose. It is background music in this sense and I am not a fan of this type of music, certainly I would rather actual songs that I can sit down with and really analyse. However, It is what it is. Very well accomplished musicianship with emotional charges that climax and descend over a soaring wall of sound. A 30 minute EP that show great potential for albums to come in the Post/Math genre.

The Album artwork is rather bland but the music is exciting. The way it begins, a track called 'Quit', with a minimalist piano and a beautiful guitar motif is very relaxing and calming to the senses. Steffan's keyboards are fabulous on this track, very inventive and relaxing. There are some strange samples heard, perhaps bringing to mind a peaceful walk along the river or a strenous mountain climb to the clouds. Many images may flash through your mind during this album. I thought of images of clouds merging, waterfalls cascading down and splashing into fountains, a space walk among the stars, and even a fire burning up forests. The image is thought provoking and you can take from it what you wish and the music never loses substance. It is never overbearing, rather a subtle approach to the genre, the drum patterns are deceptively simple and never overtake the effect of tranquility and peace that the EP exudes.

There are very few actual highlights to take note of, because the whole album tends to merge into one track, blending seamlessly, although I adored the guitar work and structure of 'Solitude'. The way that Jörn Krüßel and Matthias Brinkmann's guitars sing and sweep across the metrical time signatures of drum and bass is exhilarating. A wonderful well executed piece of music that draws the listener in. And it ends with a swooshing sound that criss crosses between the headphones.

There is compelling power on this album, the way that it builds, rising and falling in crescendos and certainly it is one of the better instrumental albums I have heard in recent years. Better than 'Ommadawn' by Mike Oldfield which I found to be rather a mediocre album despite the ravings on the PA here. However, if you are into this type of music I suggest first listening before purchase. On the subject of I Am The Architect's debut, there are some wonderful moments on the EP and it perhaps deserves many repeat listenings before rating, but my initial reaction is to award it at least 3 stars, because undoubtedly the innovation and musical structure of the album as a whole piece is rather remarkable.

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