Wolf Parade played a house-party in Montreal on Saturday night, and Modest Mouse's Isaac Brock was in attendance. So was my friend Dan. Isaac told Dan he was his "biggest fan." We'll never know why Isaac was in Montreal, but I think it's fair to speculate that he was here to see Wolf Parade. Last summer, Win of the Arcade Fire called the the best band in the world, and now rumour has it they've been signed to Sub Pop. They're originally from Victoria. They're a fourpiece. Their members play synths, drums, guitar, and laptop/theremin. And their guitarist is the coolest man alive: Jack White crossed with James Dean.

I've gotta admit, the band's not always to my taste - sometimes there's too much mess, too much purposeless back-and-forthing, - but at their best Wolf Parade provide an acrid blast of yellow-and-grey rock, brilliantly sharp new wave, Joy Division crossed with the Decemberists. I can't wait to hear what they do in a proper studio: and neither should you.

Wolf Parade - "Dinner Bells". Off their self-released EP, this is a long, rock dirge; a guitar that staggers alongside a wavering organ; a mournful song for death, and in the end, recovered life. Harmonica like a lone streetlight in the middle of the night, drums like the heartbeat that somehow keeps beating, a tune like a convertible shooting into flames. Listen to that electric guitar as it turns and whirls and falls, listen to the sounds that come out of the smoke.

Wolf Parade - "This Heart is On Fire" [live]. Recorded by Dan a couple months ago - and it sounds as good as something from a lofi studio. A rocker with a pounding bass-drum and ravaged vox, thrusting synths to drive feet on a dance-floor. At 2:30 there's a frenzy of feeling with a silver corona, and yet it keeps going, running and rutting forward. "Sometimes you rock and roll / I'd rather stay at home" - I don't really believe him.

Finally, as offered-and-requested, OutKast - "Ghettomusick [Benny Benassi remix]". (Thanks, Mark!) The hip-hop original's been cut apart to make way for straight-ahead club synths and an indisputable call to dance. I can't help but repeat what I said last week: this'll make you rock out "like an electric motherfucking flower," strutting and preening and curling toward sunshine. And wearing sunglasses. Techno with big-beat bump and a smiling over-the-shoulder glance at Big Boi/Dre.

Saw two shows this weekend: Sunday night was Dragana - a six-voice women's choir that does mostly Macedonian folk stuff, in the style of the Voix Bulgaires. They were very competent, and in places - particularly the songs with only 2 or 3 women singing - genuinely haunting (sad, real, true). Also performing with them were a goofy, extremely likable barbershop quartet called Four Brothers: basically a bunch of college boys goofing off, arranging old yiddish folk songs, and singing in tight harmonies. They wrestled a bit on stage.

Also saw Greg Macpherson, solo, on Friday night. The show only affirmed my belief that right now, Greg is one of the very greatest talents in Canada. In fact, if last Friday was any indication, he's got it in him to be as good as Billy Bragg, Joe Strummer, or Woody Guthrie - no joke. The man uses his guitar like a muscle - it is loud, shining, fierce, - his lyrics are crisp and fresh, his voice is a strong, thick song, and not simply a rocker's yell. Although I was disappointed by his recent EP (too plain, too acoustic, too boring in its politics), Good Times was a marvel, and there was too bright a flame in his eyes to think that the next LP will be anything less. Remarkable. (Sorry, Hayden.)

For the next month or so, as John is en route to his new home-base (best of luck!), I'll be managing the behind-the-scenes at The Tofu Hut. Do keep reading - it's one fine song every single day, with full commentary by mr forksclovetofu. When all is said and done, Tofu Hut is probably the best musicblog on the net: eclectic playlists, fantastic descriptions, astute research, boundless enthusiasm, and exquisite taste.