Our friends over at Kitsilano’s Zulu Records once again present their weekly Scout feature, the Zulu Report. Within, staff from the West 4th music store provide The Track, the song that is on heavy rotation that week; The Playlist, which is pretty self-explanatory; The Gig, the must see show of the week; and The Glance, a view ahead to music on the horizon. From their ears to yours, enjoy…
The Track
The Raveonettes | “Last Dance” from In And Out Of Control (Vice Records)
When you eat ice cream and bubbles fall from the sky, then you know that you are living one of the special moments in your life. Savour it and sublimate the joy into sweet nostalgia as in the end that is what we will all ultimately be left with…especially if you subscribe to the universe of Danish duo, The Raveonettes, who have made a career out of songs steeped in nostalgia and post-goth doom and gloom. Their most ambitious record to date, In and Out of Control, draws heavily from their acknowledged love of 60’s girl-groups such as The Ronettes and Shangri-las, while quickly filtering their saccharin melodies through a kaleidoscopic filter of White Light/White Heat noise. Last Dance, the album’s lead off single, on the surface shimmers with Vox organs and harmonizing back-up singers, yet in true Raveonettes form, as one treads a bit deeper the wonderland melts into a strange alien David Lynchian darkness! Nothing is exactly as it seems, nor should it be.
The Playlist
WE ARE WOLVES Invisible Violence (Dare To Care)
Face it – the rest of Canada is jealous of Montreal’s music scene. We Are Wolves’ amazing riff heavy new platter does not make the pain any easier.
KURT VILE Childish Prodigy (Matador Records)
Homemade psychedelia a la 13th Floor Elevators meets Suicide from this 19 year old guitar weirdo wizard.
THE MOUNTAIN GOATS The Life Of The World To Come (4AD)
Fresh off their cameo on the Colbert Report, The Mountain Goats add a new chapter of dense lyrical beauty in the book of indie rock testament.
MISSION OF BURMA The Sound The Speed The Light (Matador Records)
80’s post-punk legends are back with their new blast of distorted noise rock! For the disaffected young at heart.
YOU SAY PARTY! WE SAY DIE! XXXX (Paper Bag)
Vancouver’s own dance-punk sure can rock on these catchy new numbers. Vocalist Becky steals the show.
BEBEL GILBERTO All In One (Verve Records)
Brazilian electronica-jazz from one of the finest singers in the nu-school of samba. Even her famous mum (Astrud) can be proud of this one.
MUSE The Resistance (Warner)
Honk if you stop for operatic progressive rock. Muse gives Radiohead a run for the Queen money.
LOU BARLOW Goodnight Unknown (Merge Records)
Dinosaur Jr./Sebadoh legend and loser-core founder Lou Barlow gets real real real mellow – perfect for the approaching winter.
THE HIDDEN CAMERAS Origin:Orphan (Arts and Crafts)
Toronto’s spectacle of indie-glee rock further their chamber rock sound and even get bombastic at times – this is their Queen is Dead.
TAKEN BY TREES East Of Eden (Rough Trade)
Ex-Concretes and Peter Bjorn and John vocalist, Victoria Bergsman journeys into a soundscape of eastern rhythms with help from her Animal Collective friends.
The Gig
CHAD VANGAALEN at the Rio Theatre | Thursday October 15th
Recently short listed for the illustrious Polaris Music award, Calgarian Chad VanGaalen has in quick time won over critics and fans alike with his instantly infectious songwriting craft. Deftly weaving together a strange brew of instruments – guitars, synths, horns, strings, vibraphone, drum machines, tapes, found sounds etc. – Chad effortlessly concocts songs loaded with indie charm, delicate melodies, and soul. Add his amazing voice – that approaches Neil Young’s haunting falsetto – and the result is simply magical. Chad is not to be missed!
The Glance
Tue OCT 13
METRONOMY + FOOLS GOLD – RED ROOM
INGRID MICHAELSON – VENUE
Wed OCT14
AND…TRAIL OF DEAD – VENUE
Thu OCT 15
OWL CITY – BILTMORE
CHAD VANGAALEN – RIO THEATRE
MANVILS – VENUE
Fri OCT 16
RUDE CITY RIOT + REDEYE EMPIRE – VENUE
Sat OCT 17
MAHONES / POPES – PUB 340
CHOIR OF YOUNG BELIEVERS – MEDIA CLUB
MUSIC 4 CHANGE – BILTMORE
DRAGONETTE – VENUE
Mon OCT 19
MARK BERUBE – BILTMORE
KID SISTER – VENUE
Tue OCT 20
ISLANDS – RICKSHAW
PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS – BILTMORE
Wed OCT 21
FORMER GHOSTS – MEDIA CLUB
YO LA TENGO – COMMODORE
Thu OCT 22
GOSSIP – COMMODORE
LE LOUP – BILTMORE
Grab tickets at Zulu Records.
Sun Songs launch at Zulu yesterday was stupendous. Thanks for the tip – and thanks to Zulu for their instore performances – good vibe. Good community.
At work on a wet Saturday – but it isn’t so bad – got a strong cup from Artigiano and made my way through the Zulu Playlist. The Muse is now on a loop.