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 Swell Season | “In These Arms” from the album Strict Joy out now on Anti Records.

From the early acoustic versions of this highly emotive song, to the final flushed out recording that showcases the gorgeous arrangements and instrumentation that proliferate this astonishing new release, it is instantly clear that Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova a.k.a. Swell Season have stumbled across some rare sonic magic! Indeed their story -as stars of the Oscar winning film Once and as working musicians finding themselves on much much larger world stages – is not only romantic and inspiring but also more importantly proof that incredible music and performances hit a nerve, find an audience, and thrive. I guess it doesn’t hurt when you combine two amazing voices and a masterful lyrical sense that oozes with enthralling passion. For Strict Joy Hansard and Irglova are joined by familiar Frames members Colm Mac Iomaire (violin), Joe Doyle (bass), Rob Bochnik (guitar), Graham Hopkins (percussion) as well as guitarist Javier Mas (Leonard Cohen), pianist Thomas Bartlett (Doveman), percussionist Chad Taylor (Chicago Underground Duo), horn players Steven Bernstein and Clark Gayton from Levon Helm’s band, and others. A true fireside classic. Check their myspace page for more sounds.

The Playlist

LEONARD COHEN Live at the Isle of Wight CD/DVD (Sony)
Field Commander Cohen in 1970 was flanked by a pack of lovely chanteuses and a ragged hippy band – the result is a gorgeous poetic orgy and a tough act for Hendrix to follow.

SUFJAN STEVENS The BQE (Asthmatic Kitty)
An epic Wagner-esque indie rock score in homage to Brooklyn from one of its most famous residents.

EDITORS In the Light of This Evening (Sony)
Fine brooding Bad Seeds meets Ian Curtis rock from this bombastic Birmingham four piece!

EL PERRO DEL MAR Love Is Not Pop (The Control Group)
Hugely under-appreciated, Swede Sarah Assbring has a definite verve to her quirky pop craft.

BLACK HEART PROCESSION Six (Temporary Residence)
Spooky gear-head music mixed with burnt out Americana… an aural journey into darkest San Diego!

LITTLE GIRLS Concepts (Paper Bag)
When your influences are “90’s nostalgia” I guess it is safe to expect layers and layers of spiraling fuzz guitar and reverb howls.

A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS Exploding Head (Mute)
Just in town devastating the Biltmore, this NYC power trio takes psychedelic music and turns it inside out.

DUTCHESS AND THE DUKE Sunset/Sunrise (Hardly Art)
Co-ed harmonies and cabinesque melodies abound on their fine sophomore release. Sharp dressers too.

DO MAKE SAY THINK Other Truths (Constellation)
This amazing Toronto band prove they can do it all! Free jazz, post rock, deep atmospherics and more…this is the shape of modern music.

NEON INDIAN Psychic Chasms (Lefse)
Mixing equal bits from LCD Ssoundsystem, Daft Punk and today’s rural freak rock, this debut hits like an electro-rock battle cruiser.

The Gig

Black Mountain and Bison | Saturday October 31st @ the Rickshaw Theatre

For many reasons the Rickshaw Theater at 254 East Hastings is quickly becoming the place to see a band in Vancouver. Kudos to developer David Duprey for taking the steps to transform the space and engaging the DTES community to add another pillar to the social fabric; kudos to the promoters for taking their productions back into this historically and culturally rich Vancouver hood; and Kudos to the bands (past, present, and future) who recognize the unique possibilities of the space to host all-ages and licensed crowds at the same time. OK, enough. Black Mountain and Bison together on Halloween…this one will be juicier than a Blair Stanley Budgie burrito!

The Glance

Tue OCT 27

PROPAGANDHI – RICKSHAW

Wed OCT 28

AIRBORNE TOXIC EVENT – COMMODORE
CROOKERS – CELEBRITIES
YOUNG GALAXY – BILTMORE
CREEP SHOW – RED ROOM

Thu OCT 29

LUVAFAIR – BOWIE – GLAM HALLOWEEN – CELEBRITIES
CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE & JOHN O’CALLAGHAN – BOSS NIGHTCLUB
FLOGGING MOLLY – COMMODORE

Fri OCT 30

FLOGGING MOLLY – COMMODORE
SANDER KLEINENBERG – CELEBRITIES
BROADCAST / ATLAS SOUND – BILTMORE
EMILIE AUTUMN – RICKSHAW
CRAZE / KILL THE NOISE – MODERN

Sat OCT 31

BLACK MOUNTAIN/BISON – RICKSHAW
GET TOGETHER HALLOWEEN – STEAMWORKS
BONEYARD PARTY I – BILTMORE
BONEYARD II – ASTORIA
SANCTUARY: SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES – CLUB 23
ATTACK OF THE KILLER BANDS – PUB 340
YOUNG BLOOD HALLOWEEN – HASTINGS RACETRACK
UNDERTAKER’S BALL – PENTHOUSE

Sun NOV 01

SIN CITY FETISH HALLOWEEN – CELEBRITIES
MAT KEARNEY – VENUE

Mon NOV 02

MUM – VENUE
BLUES CONTROL – LITTLE MOUNTAIN

Tue NOV 03

PETE TONG – CAPRICE
ART BRUT – BILTMORE
SKINNY PUPPY – RICKSHAW

Score your tickets at Zulu!