by Nic Bragg | From Kitsilano’s Zulu Records, we once again present our weekly Scout feature, the Zulu Report. Within, we provide The Track – the song that is on heavy rotation in the shop this week; The Playlist – which is pretty self-explanatory; The Gig – the ‘must see’ show of the week; and The Glance – which details the best live acts that are on the immediate horizon. From our ears to yours, enjoy…

THE TRACK

SPIRITUALIZED Little Girl

It still feels like the city is still shaking after Jason Pierce brought his big Spiritualized band to the Rickshaw in May. Here’s the second video for their amazing Sweet Heart Sweet Light release – easily one of the best albums of 2012!. Like the first video for Sweet Jane, which followed the trials and tribulations of a transgendered prostitute in America’s south, this new video is also an ode someone who’s fallen into a gritty life, full of tough choices, and moments of deep despair. Trust Pierce to not shy away from this – his upbringing in the UK as a member of cult-band Spacemen 3 was all about the gloomy reality that follows the post-rave dawn and ultimate come down from a night of drugs and rock and roll. Set in Germany and Poland, Little Girl is a pretty epic video – check out the liner notes if you are curious on some of the high speed motorcycle stunts!

SIGUR ROS Rembihnutur

You have to hand it to these four Icelanders – they have a unique way of doing things. On the release of their tasty new release Valtari, they organized a worldwide listening party (of which Zulu was a part of!!) and now follow it up with a series of mystery video experiments from their fans. Gorgeous black and white footage of people in emotional states and completely SFW.

JEFF THE BROTHERHOOD Sixpack

Last time I was in Nashville you could really sense the winds of change. The old country scene was getting stale. The rock scene was literally blowing up. Black Keys and Jack White roamed the streets like cheetahs. Here is a new track from Nashville’s latest rock combo. It probably doesn’t have staying power, but rock music is all about the present.

THE MEMORIES Baby

How cool is this!! Zulu staff member Melanie Coles has made this video for a band and now it is on Pitchfork!!

MUM Hvernig Á Að Særa Vini Sína

Ok, we can’t resist having another amazing Icelandic band on this week’s playlist! Mum are dear to our hearts as they are a much more playful group and on the excellent Morr Records label! Experimental electronics have never sounded this poppy.

TRUST Sulk

Ticket sales for this show have really started to pick up! So, we investigate! Synth bands are a dime and dozen right now, so it is a no brainer why Trust (and their tour mates) are easily a cut above the rest! Gorgeous night time shots in this catchy vid.

GIRLS Vomit

Well it’s a sad week when one of your favourite bands announces that they are going through changes. Girls frontman Christopher Owens has announced that he is stepping away from the band, and honestly I can’t see how they will continue without him. Girls have always had an element of strangeness to them, and surely with all the documented ‘problems’ associated with Owens, we can only hope that he is healthy and that this is good thing for him. Adieu my friend.

THE GIG

JEFF MANGUM (NEUTRAL MILK HOTEL) – VOGUE THEATRE Wednesday Jul 25th

For the second week in a row we are recommending you check out some music at the Vogue Theatre… the experience is that good! Jeff Mangum is the author behind arguably two of the most influential indie rock releases of the 90’s and one of the most mysterious figures in the music scene! For many years he disappeared from the spotlight and refused to perform live – all while songs like Two Headed Boy and Hold 1945 became indie anthems inspiring bands like The Decemberists, Clap your hands say yeah, and even Arcade Fire to interpret Mangum’s fuzzy folk aesthetic. For years, this was all we had… until that is when one day a couple years ago our good friends at Merge Records hinted that Jeff was preparing to return to the stage and bring his songbook to life again! Today, Jeff is still a bit of a recluse, and strictly doesn’t allow video or recording of his shows, instead preferring to keep the music intimate and a special thing. This is his Vancouver debut performance and promises to be an incredible night for both the hardcore cult fans as well as anyone into really gorgeous folky tunes!

The Glance

Tue Jul 17 BRUCE PENINSULA – MEDIA CLUB
Wed Jul 18 TRUST & LIGHT ASYLUM – BILTMORE
Wed Jul 18 VIBESQUAD – CELEBRITIES
Wed Jul 18 PETE ROCK – REPUBLIC
Thu Jul 19 BEND SINISTER – VENUE
Fri Jul 20 3 INCHES OF BLOOD – VOGUE
Fri Jul 20 DJ JAM – REPUBLIC
Fri Jul 20 AESOP ROCK – VENUE
Fri Jul 20 THE PSYCHIC PARAMOUNT – RICKSHAW
Fri Jul 20 TRITONAL – CELEBRITIES
Sat Jul 21 KHATSAHLANO! MUSIC + ART FESTIVAL – between BURRARD – MACDONALD – 12PM – 8PM FREE!!
Sat Jul 21 CRYSTAL STILTS – ELECTRIC OWL
Sat Jul 21 THE COATHANGERS – WALDORF
Sat Jul 21 SHEARWATER – MEDIA
Sat Jul 21 YOUTH LAGOON – VENUE
Jul 21 – 22 THE KULTH MUSIC FEST – COOMBS RODEO GROUNDS
Sun Jul 22 THE BOOM BOOMS: BIKERS FOR AUTISM FUNDRAISER – SHARK CLUB
Sun Jul 22 TEENAGE BOTTLE ROCKET- VENUE
Sun Jul 22 BEAT CONNECTION – ELECTRIC OWL
Mon Jul 23 CLOUD NOTHINGS – BILTMORE
Mon Jul 23 BOUNCING SOULS- VENUE
Tue Jul 24 BIG KRIT – FORTUNE
Tue Jul 24 DIRTY PROJECTORS- COMMODORE
Tue Jul 24 SLIM CESSNA’S AUTOCLUB – BILTMORE
Wed Jul 25 PHANTOGRAM- VENUE
Wed Jul 25 OKA – FORTUNE
Wed Jul 25 JEFF MANGUM (NEUTRAL MILK HOTEL) – VOGUE
Thu Jul 26 BONOBO DJ SET- FORTUNE
Fri Jul 27 PEAKING LIGHTS – BILTMORE
Fri Jul 27 LAZY RICH + HIRSHEE – CELEBRITIES
Fri Jul 27 SEBA CALIBRE – W2
Sat Jul 28 CEDRIC GERVAIS – CELEBRITIES
Sat Jul 28 BEIRUT – VENUE- WE’RE SOLD OUT
Sat Jul 28 GOLD PANDA- ELECTRIC OWL
Sun Jul 29 ALBERTA CROSS- MEDIA
Sun Jul 29 SERANI – REPUBLIC
Tue Jul 31 BURAKA SOM SISTEMA – FORTUNE