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The Vees V (Murderecords) With the departure of guitarist Eve Hartling and the dissolution of their Sub Pop deal, Halifax indie rockettes Jale have retired their name but continue as a trio (guitarist Jennifer Pierce now lives in Montreal), and make their debut on this five-song EP. Jale were most compelling when they came in with a kind of grunge-pop naïve; in learning the ropes, Jale/The Vees lost the dirty end of the dynamic and have never really replaced it. 6.5/10 (Chris Yurkiw) Christof Migone Hole in the Head (Ohm/Avatar/Ambiances Magnétiques) Students of psycholinguistics and sympathisers with Bertolt Brecht's ideas on interactive radio should recall Christof Migone's sound-breaking show on CKUT-FM, Danger In Paradise, whence a goodly chunk of this "schizophonic art" is culled. Mics are misused, CD players skip, syllables are snipped and recognized languages lapse into what Allen S. Weiss calls in the liner notes "Migone's oral and aural contortions, ruins, lacerations, abrasions and ruptures." Great fodder for your answering machine. 8/10 (Chris Yurkiw)
Ragtime and bluegrass on Sub Pop? Without a single bigmuff blast or jaded sneer of appropriation? Unlike the Bad Livers' patented "bluegrass thrash," this busker-borne North Carolina band just oozes with old-time authenticity, serving up hot juke-joint anthems by George Gershwin or Professor Longhair alongside exuberant originals ("When I Fall"), and topped off with rollicking piano, stand-up bass and flat-pick guitar. Why the hell not? 7/10 (Lorrie Edmonds) Anggun Au nom de la lune (Sony) Emer Kenny self-titled (Triloka/PolyGram)
Here are two women attempting to fuse their musical roots with aspects of current pop. Anggun's Indonesian inclinations surface far too rarely, largely swept aside by nondescript bank-lobby Muzak. Unfortunate, because the bright patches of traditional music are her album's strength. Kenny fares far better, finding common ground for her harp-based Celtic moods and the relaxed, modern beats they accompany. Anggun 5/10; Kenny 7.5/10 (Rupert Bottenberg)
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The Blue Rags Rag-N-Roll (Sub Pop/Warner)