With two self released e.p's and one full length album under their belt, Quatre Teteā??s most recent release, "Art of the State" is 38 minutes and 55 seconds of synapse-melting timing and memory-challenging arrangements that never overwhelms the pure joy of a rock band firing on all cylinders. Their disparate influences converge to a perfectly imperfect labyrinth of sound and rhythm. Mark Bartak's guitar seethes with savagery as prog- and metal-infused riffs soar against a math-rock backdrop. Bassist Becka Joynt and drummer Rick Lane hold it down in thunderous fashion; tight and explosive, they anchor the chaos while lighting the fuse to blow it up again. Mark Bartak and Becka Joynt have been an integral part Chicago's diverse music scene with their gritty extension of the mid-'90s "Chicago sound" for nearly a decade. Quatre Tete, the latest incarnation, has taken a turn for the heavy, combining the adrenalin fueled in your face swagger of the Jesus Lizard with the complex structure, dark overtones and musicianship of King Crimson. In the past year alone they've nestled comfortably on bills with such diverse bands as Shellac, Helmet, Dianogah, Bobby Conn, The Life and Times, and Indian. Quatre Tete called in serious Chicago talent in the production of "Art of the State." Bob Weston (Shellac, Mission of Burma) helmed the board at Chicago's legendary Electrical Audio studios. World-renowned Chicago rock poster artist Jay Ryan lent his skills for the cover art. Additionally, the album was mastered by the legendary John Golden at Golden Mastering in Ventura, CA. "Art of the State" was released on vinyl LP (each packaged with a free cd!) on November 4, 2008 on the label Bec-Rec. Sickroom Records will release the CD version on January 13, 2009. Both are distributed by Chicago Independent.