Bill Frisell
Unspeakable (Nonesuch/Warner)
The prolific Frisell hardly has to sell himself as one of the most gifted guitarists out there, but Unspeakable shows him moving farther away from six-string heroics and plunging deeper into his compositional talent. On the lead-off track "1968," Frisell lays down some Wes "the Thumb" Montgomery phrasing (also check "Del Close"), embellished with some lush, '70s-style string arrangements. Trying his hand at turntablism, producer Hal Wilner plucks some dusty soul treats from the record crates and proves to be a perfect foil to Frisell's Roy Buchanan-style funk ("White Fang") and Booker T groove ("Alias"). 9/10 (Johnson Cummins) At le Spectrum, Mon., July 4, 9:30 p.m., $37.50
The Most Serene Republic
Underwater Cinematographer (Arts & Crafts)
With a spirit and grandeur similar to their label-mates Broken Social Scene, this ambitious sextet dolls up angular indie rock tendencies with exuberant arrangements and fuzzy atmospherics. Decidedly more upbeat than their bizarre moniker implies (extra points for shameless pretension there), the band works coarse, homemade electronics into their rock arrangements, occasionally stripping it down to shimmering layers of acoustic guitar or piano. The recurring tone deaf choir is an irritating device, but their co-ed lead vocals are pleasant enough. Overall, though, these Ontario kids mix roughness and refinement to their advantage. 7.5/10 (Lorraine Carpenter)
Motörhead
Live at Brixton '87 (Sanctuary/EMI)
There's nothing too exciting about Motörhead's third official live album, which documents their middle period with the twin guitar attack and drummer Philthy Animal Taylor returning to the fold. Unfortunately, the set is marred by horrible sound that reduces this to little more than a glossy bootleg. Also, too much attention is given to their then-recent clunker Rock and Roll, with over half of the record making the set list here. This is for the real diehards only - those of you who really need the filth and fury of Motörhead in the live setting best dig back to the classic No Sleep 'Til Hammersmith. 6.5/10 (Johnson Cummins)
Four Tet
Everything Ecstatic (Domino/Outside)
While the genre has become a redundant drone of beardos dropping treated and processed acoustic guitars over minimal glitch beats, you can't fault Kieren Hebden for helping kickstart the folktronica subgenre. At the time, it was just the kind of warmth electronic music was looking for. But those days are over and just like Caribou's Dan Snaith before him, Hebden is staying ahead of the curve by switching up styles. The latest (and aptly-named) album is a glorious cacophony of rumbling, tumbling drum breaks, sped-up R&B vocals ŕ la Kanye, shimmering keyboard melodies and heaven-sent elation. Absolutely gorgeous! 8.5/10 (Raf Katigbak) With Akufen at Club Soda, Fri., July 8, midnight, $17.50
Dave Clarke
World Service 2 (Resist/Fusion III)
Ever since he poked the makeshift "booty!" sign I held in front of him at the Bal en Blanc oh so many years ago, I've always had a soft spot for Dave Clarke. For the last decade, the British DJ/producer has always been straight up and uncompromising - from his driving and banging techno/electro sets to his open criticisms of acts like Richie Hawtin, Clarke pulls no punches. This two-CD mix, much like his first now-classic World Service, is no exception. The electro disc is signature Clarke: cold and robotic, but darker and less adventurous than the first mix. The techno side is where Clarke really shines, balancing the filtered funk with pounding Detroit, acid and booty. Guaranteed to rearrange your synapses! 8/10 (Raf Katigbak)
Various
Cock Dynamiks: Sensual Canadian Hip Hop (Urbnet)
I can clearly remember the original Cock Dynamiks tour, back in 1998, when cats like Moka Only, Buck 65 and Fritz Tha Cat all performed in Montreal together, celebrating the art of the sex rhyme. This CD is a reissue of an album that was only ever available on tape - remember those? This is still all about wonders in the bed, and some of the crazy stories you can tell about your dick, but it's also about lyrics. While none of these tracks will find heavy rotation with me, Fritz Tha Cat's "Dirty Hanes Freestyle" still brings a tear to my eye. 7/10 (Scott C)
Gaďa
self-titled (Jajou/Select)
Eight years is a long build-up for a debut album, a stretch these local showstoppers have devoted to becoming a preeminent live act. Thanks to exquisite production by Ramachandra Borcar (yup, the Ramasutra guy), that energy is there, but so is every drop of nuance in their sound. Incorporating funk and electronic flourishes, fabulous frontman Elie Haroun and crew touch on a variety of sounds from Brazil's diverse musical ecosystem. The heavy funk-rock of "Olha o trem," with guest vocals from celebrated samba queen Elza Soares, gives way to the percussive shorty "Habla Perú" and the lazy, lustrous samba "Outono." 8/10 (Rupert Bottenberg) On the Jazz Fest's Loto-Québec Stage (President-Kennedy and St-Urbain), Tues., July 5, 8 p.m. and 10 p.m., free
Various
Soca Gold 2005 (VP)
The colourful non-stop dance party that is Trinidad Carnival takes place in February every year; VP collects the top tunes of each season and releases it just when it starts to warm up here in the usually frigid north. Featuring a couple of strong re-works (Edwin Yearwood's take on Atlantik's "All Aboard" and a new version of Explainer's "Lorraine" featuring the former Soca King and Bunji Garlin), the wickedly infectious "MorTor" by Rikki Jai featuring Machel Montano, and the cheeky "Sleeping in Your Bed" by Michelle Sylvester, this selection just might be enough to keep things hot hot hot through till next year. 9/10 (Erin MacLeod) Soca Festival featuring Bunji Garlin and more at Parc Jean-Drapeau, Sat.-Sun., July 2-3, noon-11 p.m., $10 per day
Kahil El'Zabar & Kemit Sources
"Our Time is Now" 12" (Deeper Soul)
Back when he was in France in 2004, working through his artist-in-residence projects in Bordeaux, Chicago jazz man Kahil El'Zabar took some time to dip into the Paris studios of Kemit Sources, where they recorded this deep, dark and rhythmic piece of music. It's the bottom-heavy shuffle of West London's IG Culture, though, that makes the B-side remix the obvious choice. This is part of an album of Kahil El'Zabar remixes and originals due out later this year, showing this old soul can certainly hang tough with the new guard. 8/10 (Scott C)
Eric Benét
Hurricane (Warner)
Benét's second album, '99's A Day in the Life, was a tour de force that showcased the talents of an extraordinary singer/songwriter. His high-profile break-up with actress Halle Berry sent Benét running for cover, and now, after six years in the shadows, he emerges as a man still struggling with the aftermath of a painful divorce. As such, the playful side of this project, skillfully displayed by excellent tracks like the acoustic-driven "Be Myself Again" and the seductive "Pretty Baby," is overshadowed by too many weepy ballads like "My Prayer" and "Where Did the Love Go." Hopefully this hurricane will blow itself out before Benét releases his next set. 7.5/10 (Gerard Dee)
Jolie Holland
Escondida (Anti/Epitaph)
Jazz, blues and folk get on like a house on fire on Jolie Holland's second solo album, a smoky, soulful disc about lonely girls, mad boys, ukuleles and morphine. After co-founding Vancouver country-blues trio the Be Good Tanyas, the nomadic Texas-born singer has moved on to more intimate material, featuring subtle acoustic and occasional electric guitars, sparse horns, piano and ukulele, brushed drums and morose infusions of horns and musical saw. Moreover, these 10 originals and two traditional songs showcase Holland's rich, tender voice, recalling the timeless strains of Jo Stafford and Billie Holiday. 8.5/10 (Lorraine Carpenter) At Club Soda, Thurs., July 7, 7 p.m., $26.50
Bill Charlap
Plays George Gershwin: The American Soul (Blue Note/EMI)
The trio of Charlap and the unrelated Washingtons, Peter and Kenny, make up one of the top trios currently on the jazz scene - attending two performances by them in Burlington has left me with a wealth of musical memories. Here the trio is abetted by the arrangements of the great Torrie Zito and the horns of Slide Hampton, Nicholas Payton, Phil Woods and Frank Wess in some wonderful music from Gershwin's prolific pen. Superb! 10/10 (Len Dobbin) The Bill Charlap Trio, with Ben Wolfe on bass, are at Salle Gesů, Sun., July 3, 10:30 p.m., $32.50
Ellis Larkins
Manhattan at Midnight (Lone Hill/Trend)
The late pianist, who died in 2002, was the ideal accompanist for many singers. His playing on Pure Ella makes that the Fitzgerald CD to own. Herein you'll find material from three LPs released by Decca in the '50s. There are two long medleys, "Manhattan..." and "Penthouse Suite," plus 12 single tracks including "Am I Blue," "A Blues Serenade" and his own "Four Bar Intro With Tag." He's assisted by people like "Skeeter" Best, Beverly Peer and Joe Benjamin. A must for piano lovers - gorgeous! 10/10 (Len Dobbin)
Mini CD Reviews
Wes Montgomery Smokin' at the Blue Note (Verve/Universal) The "Thumb" meets a very together trio of Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers and Jimmy Cobb - 11 live tracks with no dumb overdubs! 10 (LD)
Various Katapult Vol. 1 (Karat/Statik) The Parisian record store (Katapult) cum record label (Karat) drops its first mix with a roster of warm Chilean micro-house (Ark, Cabanne), colder, processed Euro beats (Krikor, Chloé) and even Montreal's minimalists Egg. 7.5 (RK)
Aqualung Strange and Beautiful (Columbia/Sony BMG) Halves of Aqualung's two U.K. LPs fused for North American connoisseurs of beautiful modern balladry, now with half the schmaltz. 7 (LC) With the Cary Brothers at la Sala Rossa, Tues., July 5, 9 p.m., $10
Dwight Yoakam Blame the Vain (New West) Yoakam still has the city-slicker radio-dial appeal, but manages to sneak in some George Jones every now and again, delivering the goosebumps. 7 (JC)
Various Queens of Reggae (Times Square) Hey, when you're bigging up the ladies, d'ya think you could get some bigger tunes? 7 (EM)
Bear vs. shark Terrorhawk (Equal Vision) Screamo mixed with melodic vocals, who woulda thunk it? 5 (JC)
Geri Haliwell Passion (EMI) Sub-Madonna tripe minus the bondage gear and ox stomach. 4 (LC)
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