s Walla has recorded his own songs for half a decade as Martin Youth Auxiliary, and although the project stirred critical fanfare, the music was never distributed in any earnest.
“Field Manual,” set for a Tuesday release, is his first widely distributed solo release. And while pretty, haunting and immaculate, the album isn’t likely to overshadow other projects he has had a hand in, be it as a musician in Death Cab or producing music from Tegan and Sara, Hot Hot Heat or The Decemberists.
“Geometry &c.” (no, that’s not a typo) is lively and driving,
This article appears in Jan 23-29, 2008.