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

BIBIO – Mind Bokeh (Anti)

Weird follow up to the laptop folk classic Ambivalence Avenue – More of a slow burn; this one takes a few listens to absorb but when it hits you it feels awesome. Vibe the autoharp on “Pretentious” : It takes about a full minute or two to introduce itself but when the groove kicks in I just wanna shrug my shoulders and close my eyes and sway left to right with the beat. Stephen Wilkinson knows his way around a synth—he’s got way less guitar than the last one—but it’s a nice change of pace. Where the AA was undeniably music to listen to in the fall, Mind Bokeh is a great soundtrack for the rainclouds retreating to the mountains, heralding the brief months of Vancouver summer we enjoy.

The Playlist

MAN MAN – Life Fantastic (Anti)

More bizarro indie rock circus jams from the Philly bros with one of the spookiest and awesomest live shows I’ve ever seen. Produced by Saddle Creek’s finest, Mike Mogis. I’m freaking out!

KODE9 & THE SPACEMAN Black Sun (Hyperdub)

Dubstep is here to stay. Steve Goodman lays down a billion thick layers of big bass while his MC grumbles about whatever they grumble about in Scotland. Dope.

BOOKER T. JONES The Road From Memphis (Anti-)

Oh shit yes. Zulu is a home for funk music on Fridays. Anytime I play any classic ‘Green Onions’ Booker riffs my jeans shrink up around me. I guess he is tight.

STEVE EARLE I’ll Never Get Out of This World Alive (New West)

Nice. Finally a throwback dude that doesn’t try to fuck it up by updating his sound. It took me 13 seconds to enjoy this album. Stevesy is still preaching to the choir but I wouldn’t want it any other way. It sucks not being able to play guitar…

EMMYLOU HARRIS Hard Bargain (Nonesuch)

She’s back, baby! Actually I just checked some facts… 26 records in 42 years isn’t a bad pace when you think about the fact that we’re still waiting for the follow up to Zwan after eight years.

HOLY GHOST! Holy Ghost! (DFA)

These guys should change their name to The Waking Crew. Our coffee machine busted the other day so we put this record on and spontaneously broke into The Hustle. Gotta love their riff on the Knicks logo too!

TV ON THE RADIO Nine Types of Light (Interscope)

The monsters of indie rock return with their fourth effort. And it’s actually pretty cool! Typically I think these bands that cross over to a more mainstream audience tend to gravitate to the middle of the road, but TVOTR are getting poppier and that ain’t a bad thing. I would go so far as to say they’re finally HITTING their stride as opposed to losing their edge.

VIVIAN GIRLS – Share the Joy (Polyvinyl)

Always figured the Vivian Girls would be great to listen to when pretending to have James Bond spy missions/wild west shootouts/car chases in your basement, all of these fantasies in your childhood of course!

ROBBIE ROBERTSON How To Become Clarivoyant (Macrobiotic)

Look who it is! The legendary Canadian songsmith reprises his role as “greatest guitarist of all time” on his latest LP. Yeah it’s dad-rock and yeah it’s cheesy but RR is still cooler than the other side of the pillow and I can imagine him recording this in a studio full of homies all thoroughly enjoying the good life. Take it easy, Royal.

The Gig

Fri MAY 13 LAKE – BILTMORE

LAKE put out one of my favourite records in 2009. It was called Let’s Build A Roof and not enough people appreciated it. The new one is called Giving & Receiving, which, criminally, has not arrived on the Zulu shelves at the time of this writing. I haven’t seen them live yet but I can’t wait! Bands that keep good tour blogs are the heroes if you ask me, and these guys are doing just great with theirs. For whatever reason, fans seem to have an unending fascination of pictures of their favourite bands on tour doing NOTHING. I’m no exception, and the LAKE crew does weekly photo dumps on their blogspot. I’m gonna try to sneak into one of their photos when they get to Vancouver,

The Glance

Mon MAY 09
BLACK ANGELS – VENUEWE ARE SOLD OUT

Tue MAY 10
ATMOSPHERE – VOGUE – AT THE DOOR

Wed MAY 11
PETER BJORN AND JOHN – VENUE – WE ARE SOLD OUT

Thu MAY 12
DOWNLINK – FORTUNE
ROCK RELIEF – VENUE
JOE PUG – MEDIA CLUB
ROBB G & B RICH – SHINE
A-TRACK – COMMODORE

Fri MAY 13
YACHT – RICKSHAW
LAKE – BILTMORE
YELLE – COMMODORE
WILLIAM FITZSIMMONS – WALDORF

Sat MAY 14
CHRISTINA MARIA – BILTMORE
TRAMPLED BY TURTLES – MEDIA – WE ARE SOLD OUT
RAVONETTES – VENUE – WE ARE SOLD OUT
PACK A.D. – RED ROOM

Tue May 17
THE GREENHORNES – VENUE

Wed MAY 18
BLACK MOON – BAR NONE

Thu MAY 19
STEVE LAWLER – FORTUNE

Fri May 20
KATHRYNE CALDER – BILTMORE

Sat May 21
JIMMY EAT WORLD – COMMODORE
SAM BRADLEY – VENUE

Sun MAY 22
DAVID GUETTA – VANCOUVER CONVENTION CENTRE

Mon MAY 23
AGENT ORANGE – RICKSHAW
FEDERICK SQUIRE – BILTMORE

Tue MAY 24
BAMBOOZLE ROADSHOW: Chiddy Bang – COMMODORE – CANCELLED
USS W/ MICHOU – MEDIA CLUB

Wed MAY 25
GUITAR WOLF – BILTMORE
SLEIGH BELLS, NEON INDIAN – THE VOGUE – MORE TIX!!!

Thu MAY 26
KJ SAWKA – FORTUNE
NOMEANSNO – COMMODORE

Fri MAY 27
SHARON JONES – MALKIN BOWL – WE ARE SOLD OUT
LYKKE LI – VOGUE – WE ARE SOLD OUT

Sat May 28
YEASAYER w/ SMITH WESTERNS – COMMODORE – WE ARE SOLD OUT
!!! ELECTRIC OWL (928 Main St.)

Sun May 29
JENNY & JOHNNY – VENUE
ALOE BLACC – FORTUNE

Mon May 30
BLACKFIELD – RICKSHAW

Tue MAY 31
SEPULTURA – VOGUE
ADELE – ORPHEUM – SOLD OUT – VENUE CHANGE!!! EXCHANGE YOUR TICKETS
FOSTER THE PEOPLE – VENUE – WE ARE SOLD OUT

JUNE

Wed JUN 1
TIMBER TIMBRE – VOGUE

Fri Jun 3
GUILTY ABOUT GIRLS – VENUE
SLOAN – COMMODORE

Sat Jun 4
FRIENDLY FIRES – VENUE – WE ARE SOLD OUT
GRUFF RHYS – BILTMORE

Sun Jun 5
ARCHITECTURE IN HELSINKI – VENUE

Tue Jun 7
AIRBORNE TOXIC EVENT – COMMODORE – NEW VENUE