Bulgarian Orthodox Ensemble Byzantine Chants (Jade) Best drug comedown since Byzantium. 9 (MS)

Fuck Pardon My French (Matador) Ignore the name [no! don't!--ed]... friendly, folksy, off-kilter pop. 8 (RB)

Fourplay The Best Of (Warner) After three albums? C. Khan, E. Debarge and P. Collins add commercial spice. 8 (GD)

Various Glitters is Gold (Thirsty Ear/All Saints) Harold Budd may be the new Eno. Both are here. Smart. 7.5 (MS)

Heather Eatman Mascara Falls (Oh Boy) A refreshingly unpretentious songstress with a theatrical bent. 7 (RB)

Del Amitri Some Other Sucker's Parade (A&M) Sound more and more like Badfinger, and that's never bad. 7 (CY)

Various Essential Caribana (Beat Factory) Three decades of Canada's Caribbean sounds (the older, the better, it seems) 6 (RB)

The Phoids Marianne Doesn't Know Yet (Ng Records) Phoids? Sounds like something you get removed by a doctor. 4 (JC)

Smart Brown Handbag Lullabies For Infidels (Stonegarden) They'd be at home at 90210's Peach Pit After Dark. Hell. 2 (JC)

Echo & The Bunnymen Evergreen (London) Dear Mac: we're not listening 'til you change yer fuckin' hair! N/A (CY) more discs...