Grimes

Halfaxa Lo ***

There has been a lot of activity of late in the creative department where Montreal musician Claire Boucher and her peers hang out. From the striking tones of Toro Y Moi to the gloomy goth'n'b of Zola Jesus, we seem to be enjoying an extended moody, ethereal moment. What marks Boucher's second album, Halfaxa, out from others on this crowded shelf is both her lightness of touch when it comes to the album's witchy glitches and rattling beeps, and her abiding interest in turning these soundsapes and patterns into grooves. Boucher's rhythms of distinction are beautiful, dreamy, detailed and occasionally quite daring. While there's a wrongheaded rush at the moment to recontexualise r'n'b as rhythms and bleeps, Boucher seems keener to pull rather than push her influences on this trip. As Devonand My Sister Says The Saddest Thingsshow, Boucher has ability in spades. See myspace.com/ boucherville

Download tracks: Devon, My Sister Says the Saddest Things