Lifetime Away
This Vancouver trio was turning out tough, Cocteau Twins-inspired dance music in relative obscurity back when Dead Can Dance and Enigma were first emerging. Despite far too many bandwagon jumpers, the genre isn't tapped out yet and Perfume Tree's fourth album is the best model to date of an intoxicating sound that's equal parts monastic croon, dub beat, and echo-chambered guitar.--Jeff Bateman