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

Thank You For Your Love video from Antony And The Johnsons’ stunner new disc Swanlights (Secretly Canadian).

Antony Hegarty has emerged as one of the most interesting and singular artists working within what is basically the world of pop rock; a fascinating artistic voice that mixes New York cool with avant guard composition. Aside from commanding a powerful singing voice – his Nina Simone-esque voice oscillates between fragile and brave – the lyrical and conceptual motifs that Antony has explored over his four albums are in fields totally of their own. On Swanlights Antony returns to a common theme that runs through his work, namely the connection between savagery that exists in society and the brutality of the natural world. For Antony, nature is a double edged sword; nature is beautiful and provides a sacred respite from urban life, but it is nevertheless a realm flecked with its own pain and suffering. The photo of a bloodied polar bear that serves as Swanlights‘ cover goes some way to expressing the juxtaposition that this fine, fine album explores. The record has many moments of brilliance, and the songs range from uplifting and cathartic to sounding brutally harrowing. Antony is shockingly talented and it’s an absolute thrill to see the world through his newest lens.

The Playlist

BELLE AND SEBASTIAN Write About Love (Matador)

Scotland’s stately pop smiths prove once again that they are the best qualified to Write About Love and document the heights and chasms of falling in love.

DUNGEN Skit I Allt (M exican Summer)

Dungen are master of jam rock, be it a Darkstar burners or a Rush-style cosmic-suite. Teaming up with the esteemed Mexican Summer for a release spells greatness all around.

THE BLACK ANGELS Phosphene Dream (Blue Horizon)

These leather clad psychonauts sturm und drag their way across the sun scorched highways of the astral plane in a Rat Fink dragster that runs on human blood.

KELLEY STOLTZ To Dreamers (Sub Pop)

San Fran’s Kelley Stoltz is kind of a Sub Pop backburner artist, which is a shame because the man is an absolute wizard of pop-rock. To Dreamerd shows once again that Stoltz has a magic gift for composition, this time out with touches of garage rock snarl. We like.

THE FRESH AND ONLYS Play It Strange (In The Red)

The Fresh And Onlys are no strangers to Scout’s Zulu Report – we love these shaggy SF janglers! Play It Strange finds the band is such good form that Zulu manager/Vancouver tastemaker Nic Bragg has already claimed it as his Album Of The Year – the ultimate endorsement.

SUUNS Zeroes QC (Secretly Canadian)

Montreal’s SUUNS specialize in dance rock mathematics that challenge the mind and the body in equal measure.

THE MANTLES Pink Information (Mexican Summer)

San Fran’s Mantles have that blurry, bleary, Paisley-inflected sound down in a big way, with streaks of reverb smeared over everything. Nice! That’s a video for “Don’t Lie” from their debut record (no vids yet for Pink Information).

PEARL HARBOR Something About The Chaparrals (M exican Summer)

The two badgirls in Pearl Harbor make art damaged synthetic rock with synths and guitars, with that woozy askew vibe that Ariel Pink handles so well. Interestin’ .

CHARLES MANSON AIR (Magic Bullet)

Charles Manson a complicated man: a psychotic, delusional serial killer with delusion of grandeur; a bizarre theorist about race wars, tunnels in the earth; and a dune buggy enthusiast. Less known was that Manson was also a pretty decent tunesmith. In all honesty, his simple vocal and guitar albums like Air and L.I.E. are timeless psych folk.

The Gig

The one show that you shouldn’t miss…

Big Boi of Outkast plays the Vogue on Friday October 22nd.

Big Boi is bringing the greatness to the Vogue on October 22nd and we are psyched for this show! His debut solo outing from earlier got heavy play at the store and here’s betting that he’s going to transform the Vogue into a sweaty party. This is your best reason to end up on Granville street on a Friday in a loooong time, so come join the party.

The Glance

The better shows to see on the immediate horizon…

Thu OCT 21
ACORN – BILTMORE
THE GASLAMP KILLER AND DAEDELUS – FORTUNE
FUN – MEDIA CLUB
CHEB I SABBAH – RED ROOM

Thu OCT 21 – Sat OCT 23
VANCOUVER NEW MUSIC FESTIVAL – SCOTIABANK DANCE CENTRE

Fri OCT 22
BIG BOI – VOGUE
VIN GARBUTT + FEAR OF DRINKING – ST.JAMES
FOALS – VENUE- WE ARE SOLD OUT
DEER TICK + PHOSPHORESCENT – BILTMORE
GOGOL BORDELLO – COMMODORE – WE ARE SOLD OUT

Sat OCT 23
GOGOL BORDELLO – COMMODORE – WE ARE SOLD OUT
THE VASELINES w/ Dum Dum Girls – BILTMORE
WILLI WILLIAMS – HUNGARIANSCROOKERS – VENUE

Sun OCT 24
TRISHA GAGNON – ST.JAMES
SHE & HIM – ORPHEUM
GOGOL BORDELLO -COMMODORE * WE’RE SOLD OUT *

Sun OCT 25
JOE PUG – MEDIA CLUB
DJ SHADOW – COMMODORE

Tue OCT 26
DEERHUNTER w/ REAL ESTATE M OVED TO RI CKSHAW -ALL AGES- WE ARE SOLD OUT

Wed OCT 27
WINTER GLOVES – BILTMORE CANCELLED

Thu OCT 28
SUFJAN STEVENS – ORPHEUM – WE ARE SOLD OUT
DJ PREMIER – BAR NONE
DR. MADD VIBE – VENUE

Fri OCT 29
NERO (UK) – CELEBRITIES
NIGHT OF THE UNDEAD – RICKSHAW
KIM BEGGS – ST.JAMES
AVI BUFFALO – BILTMORE
PANTY RAID – 560 SEYMOUR
BOY 8-BIT – POP OPERA
GRAPES OF WRATH – VENUE
LIBRARY VOICES – PIT PUB
BEST COAST w/ Sunny & the Sunsets – THE COBALT – WE ARE SOLD OUT
DEADBOLT – CHAPEL

Sat OCT 30
GLORY DAYS HALLOWEEN – BILTMORE
SUPER DELUXE HALLOWEEN (feat. NADASTROM) – SHINE
DETROIT GRAND PUBAHS – LOTUS
DR.DOG w/ HERE WE GO MAGIC – VOGUE
WOMEN w/ NU SENSAE – BILTMORE
TWO HOURS TRAFFIC – PIT PUB
HI-5 HALLOWEEN – CELEBRITIES
SANCTUARY HALLOWEEN – SANCTUARY
JACKBEATS / AC SLATER – HASTING RACEWAY

Sun OCT 31
SIN CITY FETISH HALLOWEEN – CELEBRITIES
LADYTRON DJ SET – FORTUNE
FEDDE LE GRAND – CAPRICE
NIGHTMARE ON ABBOTT – LOTUS