Math rock meets fusion on this debut disc. I've been wondering about the title for a while now -- are they simply suggesting "bad" architecture, or is it a combination of malarkey and architecture? Because the latter, which suggests a sort of organized goofing off, is a pretty decent description of what you'll find on Malarchitecture. Tracks like "Goleta Factor" clearly owe a lot more to jazz fusion than indie rock, and occasionally veer perilously close to smooth jazz waters, but they also maintain a quiet intensity. You should crank the volume while listening to Malarchitecture, because it's silent and mannered and at lower volumes you won't hear everything. And it's very much worth hearing. You don't want to miss the sing-song quirkiness of "Beauty of Nuts", on which Ellen Turner's simplistic vocals highlight the wonder of...well, nuts. "Barter a Samba" is one of those pervasive bits of music that makes you long for a vacation somewhere warm and sandy, while "Bring Grandma" is an entirely unexpected country-rock diversion. As a Rock Guy, I don't know how Malarchitecture will play with finicky Jazz People, but I enjoyed it thoroughly.
Lean-To Malarchitecture Household Ink CD
			Review by George Zahora

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