Album Notes

The so-called “neo-fusion” band Lean-To began working on its debut album somewhere in the murky depths of the mid-90s. Finally, after assorted roadblocks, unforeseen events and moments of inertia, Malarchitecture sees the light of day. It is: 13 tracks following an eclectic path and a heeding a private logic, encountering noise, melodies, vocal tunes with twists, instrumental music that knows no binding stylistic address. It is: guitarists Brad Rabuchin and Joe Woodard, bassist Bob Mair and drummer Tom Lackner gathering and dispersing ideas and sounds, with some help from some friends. Most importantly, it is.

Rabuchin played with Ray Charles for the last few years of Charles' life, and in various gigs around Los Angeles, and is nurturing his solo career, having recently released his debut CD, When Smart Dogs Go Bad, on Household Ink. Mair is busy in a delirious plenitude of areas, including playing with Deborah Holland and the noted Nels Cline Trio, with whom he has recorded a few CDs. Lackner and Woodard keep off and on the streets of Santa Barbara, playing in and recording with such groups as Headless Household, Dudley, and flapping, Flapping.

Malarchitecture is a sonikaleidoscope of musical instincts. C&W-esque Americana, taken to the outside, creeps in on “Lincoln Logs” and “Bring Grandma,” while feistier, funkier stuff comes on “Goleta Factor” and “Get Out and Stay Out.” Softer, ethereal strains mark “Luxury of Time,” the gospel-tinged “Gabriel,” and “#26,” and the improv muse comes to visit on “Memory Garden” and “Wig.” The guest list: Brazilian-born percussionist Airto Moreira added his rhythmic thrust and colorations on a few tracks. Glen (Toad the Wet Sprocket) Phillips sings “Kindness of Strangers,” also featuring Trey Henry playing a fetching tuba solo, and with backup vocals by Ellen Turner. She also sings on the cowboy-reggae number, “The Beauty of Nuts” and Bruce Winter adds his vocal to the dreamy “Hungry Ghosts.”

Lean-To is a work-in-progress, a definition-in-progress. More to come…