VARIOUS
Talisman (Interchill/Outside)
Here's something a little ruffer 'n' tuffer than the familiar incense-and-mint-tea fare from Interchill. The label's glowing globalism and diffuse spirituality are still intact, and they're no strangers to neo-dub with a world-beat bent, which is the theme on their latest comp. But there's unusual bite in many tracks here. A number of Interchill's usual suspects pop up - the pokey Desi dub of Suns of Arqa, Adham Shaikh's expansive "Sabadub" and the titular joint by Neil Sparkes & the Last Tribe. So do neo-dub heavyweights Bill Laswell and Jah Wobble, whose jam "Orion" is typical Axiom fare. Wobble's other contribution, the energetic "Lam Tang Way Dub" with his Invaders of the Heart and friends Molam Dub, is the comp's strongest card. 8.5/10 (Rupert Bottenberg)

HAWAII
self-titled (Paper Bag/Outside)
From the tropical isle of Toronto, Samantha Terry and Sam Goldberg paint sultry and melancholy pictures on this gorgeous debut disc. Heaven-sent harmonies and gauzy reverb carry the teary lead songs, but moods alter and escalate as the pair's his 'n' hers ethereal vocals part ways. Goldberg's "On a Train" is Hawaii at its most feral, uptempo beats and quivering guitars somehow bathed in the same silken atmosphere that gracefully envelops the whole album - without falling into that über-lush early '90s trap - proving that you can be sad, sexy and stoned all at once. 8.5/10 (Lorraine Carpenter)

NINA NASTASIA
Run to Ruin (Touch and Go)
This L.A.-born, NYC-based chanteuse creates musical shadowplay by instinct, her no-bullshit vocal clarity juxtaposed with jagged, orchestral drama. Those theatrical sounds are tamed here and heightened with help from Mr. Steve Albini, who marks this third album (and its predecessor) with some of the rawness and quiet-to-loud chestnuts he's known for, minus the distorted guitar squalls. Instead, the sounds ease out of piano, accordion, acoustic guitar, lite drums, banjo and strings, with moments of mounting tension and chaos threatening dissonance but preferring a stirring subtlety, or a downcast noise that just wants to make friends. 8/10 (Lorraine Carpenter) With the Swords Project at Casa del Popolo, Thurs., July 10, 9pm, $10

THE BESNARD LAKES
self-titled (independent)
This Montreal psychedelic pop band could be one of the city's best kept secrets. They're obviously hip to all things My Bloody Valentine, Swervedriver, Brian Wilson and Swell, with the occasional nod to some angular post-punk. Besnard Lakes prove to be experts at serving up the dense, swirling sound with an arsenal of instrumentation all fighting for space. On songs like "Thomasima" they manage to coax melody out of discordance, while songs like "You've Got to Want to Be a Star" merely hangs on a nursery-rhyme melody. Vocals are tucked in the back, submerged in reverb as blips and bleeps and chiming guitars send the whole thing home. Keep your eyes on these guys. 8.5/10 (Johnson Cummins)

THE FLESHTONES
Do You Swing? (Yep Roc)
More like Freshtones! After 27 years at the game, no band should be expected to rock the house with the same vigour and slaphappy enthusiasm they once did. But then, Peter Zaremba and Co. are the retro garage rock scene's premier party band, as Montreal has borne witness to any number of times through the '80s and '90s. Zaremba's wailin' harp periodically pierces the wall of jangly guitar punch, eager snap of the drums and countless woo-hoos and wah-heys. So slap on the paisley shirts and miniskirts, because the Fleshtones do swing, and by gum, so should you. 8/10 (Rupert Bottenberg) With les Séquelles at la Sala Rossa, Fri., July 4, 9pm, $10

PSYCHOTIC 4
Unlocked, Unleashed, Unzipped EP (Indica/Outside)
These local sleaze punks easily marry the '77 punk sound with high-octane rock 'n' roll, in the vein of the Black Halos, US Bombs, Teenage Head and the Dead Boys. Production is crisp and crunchy and singer Dean Generate's 'tude is fine-tuned and right up there with some of the best punk rock screamers. Instead of just a steady diet of speed, Psychotic 4's sleaze rock knows how to switch gears with dynamics in songs like "Knocking Down Your Wall." You'll still be gnashing your teeth to songs like "Little Girls." Fifteen minutes of punk rock bliss. 8/10 (Johnson Cummins)

GIRLS ARE SHORT
Early North American (Upperclass)
"Goodbye endless winter, hello perfect summer," says a guest singer on this Mississauga duo's sophomore disc, a near perfect summer album for our less than fabulous heat wave. The techno/pop/easy-listening mash-up employs a clever concoction of uptempo breakbeats, samples, guitars, keys and flute, and could well soothe our overheated, allergy-afflicted heads and liven up our lazy bodies. The sparsely scattered vocals sometimes betray the music's lo-fi, bedroom origins and some of the last tracks feel tacked on and gratuitous, but not quite to the detriment of an otherwise fresh, sunny and exuberant album. 8/10 (Lorraine Carpenter)

VARIOUS
Goodlife Volume One (Goodlife)
After years of teasing us non-vinyl electro lovers with several deliciously gorgeous electro-tech 12-inch classics like Kiko's "Monique" and the Dima remix of the Hacker's "Fadin' Away," the Goodlife label of Grenoble, France, is putting out their first domestic compilation and all I can say is, "Finally!" Compiled by label founders and producers Oxia and the Hacker and featuring lesser-known acts like Len Faki and the "mysterious Detroit figure" Heinrich Mueller (aka Dopplereffekt), this is pumping disco electro chic at its nihilist, high-heeled, coke-snorting hottest. The perfect soundtrack for turning that 3 a.m. 'caine binge into an extended afternoon affair. 7.5/10 (Raf Katigbak)

BLESS
Presents Platinumberg: The Movement (DKD)
You gotta give it to Bless. This 20-year-old Montreal MC/mogul has a clear vision of how he wants to proceed in the music biz, complete with label backing, celebrity affiliations and entourage. Oddly enough, the "Movement" itself isn't rooted in any sort of revolutionary move forward, but instead opts for the pedestrian head nod. Ray Ray carries this record with tight production throughout, but we know he has more to store than cleverly disguised Primo beats. As the star of the show, Bless gets high marks, but also a reprimand for a little too much cliché filler. Nice to hear him go toe to toe with a veteran like Guru and pull it off. All in all, an impressive debut no doubt, but can we chill on the Platinumberg empire and concentrate on making some classic shit? Thanks, buddy. 7.5/10 (Scott C)

ATACH TATUQ
Les guerre des toques (Atmusique)
If you like the dark and dirty approach, the crazy extended family of Atach Tatuq has an earful of rugged angry rhymes for your virgin ears. Made up of Egypto, R.U., L'Intrus, Casco, 1-2 d'pique, DJ Naes, Jaber, Arnak, Dee, Virus, Khyro and Haikai, the apocalyptic sounds of Montreal's premier underground French crew are pretty hard to ignore. With so many involved this record still manages to flow smoothly, showcasing the individual talents of the group, but also featuring their combined strength. Crisp and concise Franglais raps with no room for the faint of heart. 8/10 (Scott C)

JOHANNES HEIL
20,000 Leagues Under the Skin (Kanzleramt)
Anyone who thought hard techno hero Johannes Heil should lighten up and get in touch with his feminine side will love this album. Instead of jumping into it with guns blazin', Heil exercises some newfound restraint and gets to the kick only halfway through the opener. Track four is a vintage Heil banger (but without a kick), track five is a Chain-Reaction-meets-Brazilian-batucada workout and track seven has the clickiness of vintage Plastikman, but with Heil's keen melodic sense and the build-up of atmospheric dub. On the whole, the album has an underwater, filtered quality to it that is very reminiscent of Drexciya's work, at once soulful and danceable with melodies bubbling just beneath the surface. 7.5/10 (Raf Katigbak)

VARIOUS
Only the Strong Survive Soundtrack (Koch)
There's old school and then there's old school. The soundtrack to the Roger Friedman/Frazer Pennebaker flick Only the Strong Survive features the cream of '60s and '70s soul. These live performances, captured at different concert venues, highlight the power and passion of legendary soul performers like Jerry Butler ("For Your Precious Love"), Sam Moore ("Soul Man") and the incomparable Mary Wilson doing "Someday We'll Be Together" by herself, thank you very much. Wilson Pickett is a standout, delivering a blistering version of "Soul Survivor," and what '70s soundtrack would be complete without the hot buttered vocals of the man, Isaac Hayes. Classic. 7.5/10 (Gerard Dee)

BRUCE BARTH
Live at the Village Vanguard (Maxjazz)
KENNY WERNER
Beat Degeneration (Sunnyside)
Two original-sounding pianists and two live recordings in the trio format, the former in NYC and the latter in Paris. Werner, born in 1951, is the elder by seven years. Barth, who was at the Festival with Karrin Allyson, is joined by bassist Ugonna Okegwo and drummer Al Foster in a mixture of standards, "Star Eyes," jazz standards, three Monk compositions including "Evidence" and originals including a foot-tapper in "Prospect Avenue Blues." Werner, who's worked with people like Archie Shepp, the Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra and Joe Lovano, is joined by Johannes Weidenmueller and Ari Hoenig, whom he appears with here at the Festival, after an earlier appearance with Lee Konitz (both tonight, July 3). This seven-track outing consists entirely of Werner originals - try the opening "Little Blue Man," it's a great deal of fun. Both 9/10 (Len Dobbin)

Mini CD Reviews

VARIOUS 20th Anniversary Compilation (Justin Time/Fusion III) Twenty-nine tracks that underline the importance of this Montreal label, Paul Bley, Oliver Jones, David Murray, Billy Bang, Beau Kavanaugh - they're all here. 9.5 (LD)

LAL Corners (Public Transit) No corners here, only smooth curves and scenic turns. 8 (SC)

FROG EYES The Golden River (Global Symphonic) Guitar, piano and drums dart and flirt, making sense of contorted emotions, absurd narratives and wild-eyed beat poetry. 7.5 (LC)

MISTY DIXON Iced to Mode (Twisted Nerve/Fusion III) Shades of Björk, Stereolab, Mazzy Star and Julee Cruise, or fluid princess music on a throne of strings, keys and beats. 7.5 (LC)

MAX TUNDRA Mastered by Guy at the Exchange (Domino) Take the playful innocence of Felix Kubin, add up-to-date production, an appetite for pop and the twisted irreverence of They Might Be Giants. Fun! 7 (RK)

VARIOUS Basil's Bar Blues (Milan/Warner) Recorded live, this is sadly a pretty limp affair. 6 (JC)

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