Various Artists

Along with Holy Fuck (who sadly are missing from this roll call), Crystal Castles have been one of the best things to come out of Canada since Win and Régine. That’s as good a reason as any for Cheap Date to trawl the country for new music to put out on five seven-inches for the Radiohead-friendly price of £5.99 all-in. CC’s classic ‘Alice Practice’ opens a selection that introduces you to Club NME favourites We Are Wolves (predatory synth screamo), Duchess Says (electro anguish akin to Dandi Wind) and gallic garage punks Les Breastfeeders. You Say Party! We Say Die! also make an appearance, although their inner riot is absent on ‘Monster’. Be warned, there’s a handful of howlers on here, but it’s these rough cuts that make the diamonds such glorious discoveries.

Tim Chester

6 out of 10