by Nic Bragg | From Kitsilano’s Zulu Records, we once again present our monthly Scout feature, the Zulu Report. Within, you’ll find The Track – the song on heavy rotation in the shop this week; The Playlist – our selection of videos; The Gig – the “must-see show”; and The Glance – which details the best gigs on the immediate horizon. From our ears to yours, enjoy…
THE TRACK
THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS War on the East Coast
Newman sings Bejar while Bejar hits all his marks like an ordinary day roaming through Railtown! Ok, The New Pornographers are back with a new record August 25th. Going back to their roots with the Vancouver JC/DC production team, it’s no surprise that the album is a dense bombast of classic pop hooks a la Mass Romantic and The Electric Version. War on the East Coast is the first song from the album penned by Dan, who didn’t shy away from dressing up the riffs in a Brit pop Baby Shambles meets Billy Idol sort of way. This is classic NP’s – huge melodies, multiple voices chiming in, and hooks that just stick in your head. Seeing Carl lip syncing alone is admittedly strange…but what do you expect? Watch the video – War breaks out in the streets, pyrotechnics fly, and hipsters turn on themselves.
THE PLAYLIST
SPOON Do You
This video treads some of the same thematic territory as the last one. Spoon frontman Britt Daniels is cast in a landscape of chaos and destruction. Also directed as one highly choreographed long shot featuring some pretty insane special effects at the end (no spoilers). It’s incredible to see indie-rock videos that think on such a massive, epic stage. Great song, too.
BILL CALLAHAN Javelin Unlanding
Bill plays the role of the man on the moon in this nice Claymation video to support his amazing Dream River release. Alone on his journey, Callahan’s dark twang folk fits nicely with his deadpan make-up face stare.
REAL ESTATE Had to Hear
New Jersey’s indie-rock poster boys Real Estate have been relatively quiet in North America since they first toured in support of Atlas. They’ve been over in Europe on the festival circuit, but with the release of this new video, they’ve announced another Fall tour a bit closer to home. The video is pretty straight ahead – candid footage from a recent trip to Mexico City.
BECK Heart Is Drum
Beck is on a real hot streak. He’s just released his second LP of 2014 – ‘Song Reader’ – which features an a-list of collaborators, and he’s also dropped a steady streak of amazing videos to support the earlier LP, ‘Moon Phase’. Referencing film noir classic ‘Night of The Hunter’ in front of the lens, as well as a series of characters from Beck’s early years, this video has a very spooky quality that sits nicely with the soft cooing nature of the song. Cryptic and cool.
CHILLY GONZALES Iggy Azalea’s Fancy
Gonzales is a true Canadian legend. He has lived many lives as the superstar of Montreal’s downtempo scene, as the producer of Feist albums, and most recently as a virtuoso pianist performing in the best soft seaters throughout Europe. It must be a pretty romantic life. Here he interprets the music of Iggy Azalea, proving that he’s always thinking outside the box!
THE GIG
SLINT Friday, August 29th | The Rickshaw
The enigma of rock band Slint has endured for over 20 years. Four super shy kids from Louisville, Kentucky (and later Chicago) who released two heavy albums on now defunct Touch and Go records and laid the foundation for the post-rock sound of the 90’s and 2000’s. Their members went on to play in bigger bands like Tortoise, The Breeders, Will Oldham, and For Carnation, influencing an entire generation of young indie kids. Friend of the band Lance Bangs shot a lot of footage of the group as they recorded their legendary Spiderland LP in 1991 and produced this documentary featuring interviews with peers like Fugazi’s Ian MacKaye, LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy, Steve Albini and more. Based on the renewed interest in their music, Slint have reformed and are playing only a few select live dates. Luckily, local promoters Timbre Concerts flexed their own 30+ years of muscle and secured this West Coast date. See you there!
The Glance
Tue Aug 12 BAD BAD NOT GOOD – VENUE
Wed Aug 13 JUICY J – VOGUE
Wed Aug 13 BENJAMIN BOOKER – MEDIA
Wed Aug 13 MO TEZ – CELEBRITIES
Thu Aug 14 A HIP HOP SHOWCASE – VENUE
Fri Aug 15 FUCKED UP – FORTUNE
Fri Aug 15 THE FUNK HUNTERS LIVE – IMPERIAL
Sat Aug 16 HRDVISION & JOHNNY FIASCO – OPEN STUDIOS
Sun Aug 17 BORIS – RICKHAW
Tue Aug 19 BLACKALICIOUS – BILTMORE
Thu Aug 21 THE ROSEBUDS – MEDIA CLUB
Thu Aug 21 COLDWATER ROAD & OMAR KHAN – MEDIA CLUB
Fri Aug 22 GOB – IMPERIAL
Sat Aug 23 SHANE PHILLIP + BUCKMAN COE
Sat Aug 23 RUDIMENTAL (DJ SET) – ELECTRIC OWL
Sun Aug 24 JAKUBI – MEDIA
Tue Aug 26 HOW TO DRESS WELL – FORTUNE
Wed Aug 27 LITTLE DRAGON – VOGUE – WE’RE SOLD OUT
Wed Aug 27 MYA – FORTUNE
Fri Aug 29 IAMSU! – ELECTRIC OWL
Fri Aug 29 TALES OF US – IMPERIAL
Fri/Sat Aug 29/30 NOOTKA SOUND FESTIVAL w/ CRYSTAL SWELLS, OUTSIDE DOG, WATERMELON, JACCO GARDNER.. ETC- ASTORIA/RICKSHAW
Fri Aug 29 SLINT – RICKSHAW
Fri Aug 29 DOC MARTIN – SHINE
Fri Aug 29 YUNA – IMPERIAL
Fri Aug 29 TALES – IMPERIAL
Sat Aug 30 PAPERTRAILS – IMPERIAL
Sun Aug 31 THE BOTH (AIMEE MANN +TED LEO) – IMPERIAL