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Beautifuzz Self-titled (Spectra Sonic Sound) Beautifuzz's vinyl-only release proves space truly is the place in the vinyl frontier. This is full of enough analogue-driven bleeps, blips and belches to confuse even the most apt pigeonholed ears. Putting the extra helping of sauerkraut rock on Sun Ra's hot dog, Beautifuzz bring it up to date by adding old school breakbeats and even indie-ish lo-fi guitar ditties. Tape hiss and shortwave radios are finally marching to the beat of a different drum machine. Thank god. 8.5/10 (Johnson Cummins) Destiny's Child Self-titled (Sony)
The Devotees Gimme Gimme (Random Records) Something of a supergroup, albeit one conceived right here in Montreal by singer Solomon DeNiro. The grabby title suits the band's attempt to wrap their dextrous paws around funk, fusion, blues and gearhead radio rock. A lapful of slippery fish, but the one that gets away is tangible song structures, leaving the listener a little lost. Fortunately, there's plenty of weird humour to light the way, not to mention the talents of Vernon Reid, Bernie Worrell and King Crimson's Trey Gunn. 7/10 (Rupert Bottenberg) Oval Dok (Thrill Jockey) Oval's 1996 debut Systemisch lay around my apartment for over a year before I took note of it: what appeared to be musical wallpaper turned out to be painted CDs (literally), their skips keeping the rhythm, their dents bringing the noise. Dok is less abrasive--a "counter remix project" of field recordings by sound artiste Christophe Charles, but still distinctively Oval as done up by Markus Popp in his Berlin-based trio. Ambient--if not in your face, then certainly on its ear. 8/10 (Chris Yurkiw)
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Don't let the name fool you, Destiny's Child is yet another photogenic R&B female quartet trying to duplicate the En Vogue fast track to stardom. Problem is, this singin' girl thing's been done to death. This set's got the standard hooks, good though unremarkable harmonies and the almost obligatory samples. Might catch the ear for a minute but does Destiny's Child have staying power? Don't think it's in the cards. 6.5/10 (Gerard Dee)