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

PURE X Thousand Year Old Child

Austin Texas is a beautiful place. After we get through style-copping Portland we should start riffing on the scene down there. Everyone should go. One of the most talked about bands from Austin is the weirdo-trio Pure X. They first came on the scene a few SXSWs ago and were crowned kings of the indie-rock Mardi Gras festival. Their sound is somewhere between the dream pop of Sparklehorse (R.I.P.) and the vintage tones of veteran spacerockers Spiritualized and Mercury Rev. This video made all the rounds this week as the story of a ruffled goat farmer transforming into charming stage singer has become the perfect distraction. The old man cleans up pretty good and life can indeed be beautiful. Just like Austin, Texas and the enthralling music of Pure X – there’s always more to the eye!

The Playlist

THE XX – Fiction

From one X to another… A couple weeks ago London’s The XX played a sold out show at The QE Theater. Half-way through bassist Oliver Sim gave our store a special shout out as he reminisced fondly on the band’s debut performance as an instore here at Zulu. I guess it goes to show that even though this amazing band has ventured well into the upper echelons of pop music, they still remember the little guys along the way! This new stark video captures their minimalist sound perfectly!

DAVID LYNCH & LYKKE LI I’m Waiting Here

There’s a David Lynch doppelganger that I always see when I do groceries at Donald’s on Hastings. I really want to pull him aside and ask him what he thinks of this new video. I can imagine him as David, joined by Lykke with a go-pro camera driving around Joshua Tree until the sun comes down. Lynch really knows how to select an idea and go with it. Great track.

BIBIO Sycamore Silhouetting

If pensive fingerpicked guitar sprinkled with smooth blasts of alto sax are your thing then it is probably time to check into the Bibio clinic. Trust hip UK electronic label Warp Records to spot a good thing and get them under contract. Sycamore Silhouetting is a delicate track that slowly develops in a very nice way; ebbing and flowing with overlapped electric and acoustic guitar lines. Consider this post-ECM cool.

FATHER JOHN MISTY Fun Times In Babylon

Rodney Graham turned us back on this album. He spins a great story about listening to it on long morning drives in the interior. There is a seductive quality to Father John Misty (ex-Fleet Foxes), and this album spins its own story about moving from Seattle to decedent LA in search of a new life. Kudos to J. for using the plane wreck scene on the back lot of Universal Studios for this cool video.

SONNY & THE SUNSETS Palmreader

Channeling the classic jingle-jangle guitar sound of legendary New Zealand rockers The Clean, The Chills, and The Verlaines, San Francisco’s Sonny and his Sunsets gives us this groovy new cut from his outstanding new record Antenna to The Afterworld. I am pretty sure that Sonny actually works in an art-house theater.

SCOUT NIBLETT Gun

Not a lot of people talk about Scout Niblett. She’s come through Vancouver a number of times and always flown under most people’s radar. Too bad! There is always a performance art quality to her work. Check it.

THE GIG

THE BESNARD LAKES @ BILTMORE CABARET Thursday June 27th

Until In Excess, Imperceptible UFO is the enigmatic title of Montreal’s Besnard Lakes’ new record. It is a dark brooding listen that essentially encourages one to buy a black light and smoke machine and start terrorizing the neighbourhood with the sound of their trippy psychedelic rock. In this creepy new video a young gymnast pops a couple of pills and performs her routine on the balance beam. We do not endorse trying any of these moves at home and strongly recommend that you stick away from all dealers in white tuxedos. Tickets are flying out the door from this gig at the Biltmore. Bigger glance after the jump…

THE GLANCE

Tue June 18 CAYUCAS w/ JBM + HANDS – BILTMORE
Tue June 18 BEN CAPLAN – ELECTRIC OWL
Wed June 19 QUADRON – FORTUNE
Wed June 19 TORRES & LADY LAMB THE BEEKEEPER – MEDIA
Sun June 20 TRAVIS PORTER – BAR NONE
Sun June 20 MEGALODON – ELECTRIC OWL
Sun June 20 JUST BLAZE – SHINE
Mon June 21 LUCIANO & TOSH 1 – COMMODORE – WE’RE SOLD OUT
Mon June 21 TIGA (M.T.L.) – SHINE
Mon June 21 MAX VANGELI – CELEBRITIES
Tue June 22 JAY TRIPWIRE – ELECTRIC OWL
Tue June 22 NORTHCOTE – BILTMORE
Tue June 22 ALICIA HANSEN / BEN BROWN DUO – ELECTRIC OWL
Tue June 22 JOHN GRANT – RAILWAY – early show!!
Wed June 23 GORD GRDINA’S, QALANDAR – ELECTRIC OWL
Thu June 24 TOMMY BABIN – ELECTRIC OWL
Tue June 25 JESSE ZUBOT, SICK BOSS – ELECTRIC OWL
Tue June 25 GIRAFFAGE & MISTER LIES – FORTUNE
Tue June 25 OLD MAN MARKLEY – BILTMORE
Wed June 26 DEBRA-JEAN CREELMAN, VERY GOOD – ELECTRIC OWL
Wed June 26 A WILHELM SCREAM & THE FLATLINERS – RICKSHAW
Wed June 26 ALEX METRIC – CELEBRITIES
Thu June 27 THE BESNARD LAKES – BILTMORE
Thu June 27 SUN KILLER, BIG BUCK – ELECTRIC OWL
Fri June 28 ZEPHYR TRIO, STAAR CAPTAINS – ELECTRIC OWL
Fri June 28 DEFUNK w/ BAG-O-BEETZ – BLVD 22
Fri June 28 RANDY & MR. LAHEY – BILTMORE
Sat June 29 PICK-A-PIPER, FAKE TEARS, CULT BABIES – BILTMORE
Sat June 29 MYKKI BLANCO – CELEBRITIES
Sat June 29 WAKE OWL – ELECTRIC OWL
Sat June 29 IVY LEAGUE BRAWLERS – FORTUNE
Sun June 30 RAC – FORTUNE
Mon June 31 THE UNCLUDED(AESOP ROCK & KIMYA DAWSON)- FORTUNE