Zulu Report: On Re-Issued Bowie & What’s Up With “Down There”

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

currently on heavy rotation in the store…

Watch Avey Tare sort of discuss his new solo debut Down There (Paw Tracks), but primarily just creep us the hell out…

Avey Tare (aka Dave Portner) steps out from the shadow of main gig, Animal Collective, for his debut release under his (sort of) own name, Down There. Although Down There definitely shares the kind of dub-heavy, technicolor-psychedelic trance loops of Merriweather, this is nonetheless ‘nother beast. Gone is the sort of naïve, manic-positive vibe that permeates so much AC’s music; in its place is a dark sense of discomfort and foreboding yearning. Tare seems to be staring down the Big Questions on this album: fatherhood, mortality, and creeping paranoia all seem to be part of the sonic picture inscribed across the nine tracks of this album. It’s not a wholly bummer trip. More, it just feels like a mature and welcome step forward from a figure who casts a loooong shadow across the last decade of music. Down There is Tare stepping out on his own, working out some heavy issues in a way that’s fascinating to be a party to. Enjoy. Read more

Zulu Report: Waiting For “Thee Oh Sees” & Digging “Stornoway”

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

currently on heavy rotation in the store…

Neil Young performs “Walk With Me” from his new album Le Noise (WEA).

Good old Neil has gone through many transformations through the years, sometimes being a mellow folky and other times raging like the badass grunge forefather that he is. Le Noise finds Neil teaming up with ambient texturist Daniel Lanois to produce a visceral, spooky album, with the guitars mostly cranked to maximal distortion. Mostly unaccompanied by any other voices or instrumentation, here Neil explores the textures and frequencies of his electric while he reflects his life, his loves, his regrets. Walk With Me kicks off the album in fine form, with Neil meditating on the spirituality of walking with a loved one. But who is it Neil – wife Peggy? Jesus? Or is it Bruce Berry, smiling from the shadows of the grand room that Neil fills with waves of electric meditation. We don’t know. Read more

Zulu Report: Bootlegging Bob Dylan & Digging “Die Antwoord”

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

currently on heavy rotation in the store…

Bob Dylan’s The Bootleg Series Vol 9: The Witmark Demos -1962-1964 (Columbia).

Dylan’s been unrolling various previously unheard, archival goodies via his Bootleg Series, the quality of which has been extremely good. This latest installment, The Witmark Demos, consists of his earliest demos recorded to secure a publishing deal. Early Dylan classics like I’ll Keep It With Mine, Don’t Think Twice, Hard Rain and others sit alongside blues and boxcar standards that paint a portrait of a different era of music and American culture. As with other installments, Witmark features a hefty book of killer liner notes and unseen photos of Dylan doing his thing, being the ragamuffin street troubadour weirdo that he was in his early 60s Village phase.

As much you might get irritated by the hero-worship, legend-building that has erupted around Dylan in years since his criticial resurgence with Time Out Of Mind, the bootleg series reaffirms how shockingly great the man’s work truly is. Read more

Zulu Report: Listening To Black Angels And Waiting For Big Boi…

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. Read more

Zulu Report: Earfuls Of Blonde Redhead And Black Mountain…

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

On heavy rotation in the store this week…

Belle And Sebastian’s film Write About Love (Matador)

Stuart Murdoch’s Belle and Sebastian are one of the most enduring and consistent bands to emerge from the mid-90′s primordial soup that launched so many of today’s superstars. Over the course of seven albums the band has traced the path of love and heartache, so who better to Write About Love on their newest outing? Murdoch is a master tunesmith up there with the masters of the last fifty years of pop music. I’m talking about Arthur Lee, Cohen, Dylan, Robyn Hitchcock, Morrissey. Write About Love finds Murdoch and company in reliably catchy, wistful, heart wrenching form. Dig in! Read more

Zulu Report: On Crocodiles, Nymphs And Grinderman, Oh My!

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

Grinderman’s outrageous new video for Heathen Child, from their new stomper Grinderman 2 (Anti).

Grinderman is essentially Nick Cave and some Bad Seeds in full on sexed up, no holds barred, dirty old man rocker mode. Whereas Cave’s work under his own name is more aligned with Euro-flavoured maturity and austere songcraft, Grinderman is pure Dyonisian excess. I mean, this is a band whose first single was entitled “No Pussy Blues.” It’s a little tongue in cheek maybe, but ultimately it’s just fun to see a band embrace unbridled sexual energy that made Elvis seem dangerous fifty years ago. The hilariously playful “Heathen Child” video has something for everyone: Cave co. dressed as Greek gods shooting lightning bolts from their rumps, sexually frustrated wolves prowling expensive hotel rooms, and gratuitous shots of breasts. Read more

Zulu Report: All The Records You Need To Listen To This Week

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

DEERHUNTER | Helicopter from HALCYON DIGEST (4AD)

For years I have loved the vision of London’s 4AD record label. My record collection is littered with bands that got their start in the seminal days of 4AD – Cocteau Twins, This Mortal Coil, Pixies, etc. – as well as some of the fresher faces of today’s scene – The National, TV On The Radio, St. Vincent, Blonde Redhead etc. Label head Ivo Watts-Russell has always had a nose for incredibly unique voices, musicians, and performers as well as a distinct sense of graphic design, packaging and promotion. Here is a label that cherishes the art side of the business and with each new release sees an exciting aesthetic come to fruition. Now, let’s turn our ears to the latest act to arrive under the mighty 4AD banner – Athens GA’s post-psychedelic sonic wizards Deerhunter! With this new release you finally get the sense that Bradford Cox and his crew of misfits has finally synthesized all the tiny bits of greatness evident on his previous three Deerhunter efforts. Halcyon Digest has it all – distorted dream rockers, delicate ambient lullabies, and evocative soundscapes that shift tones, melody and shape like dazzling star clusters. The lead off single Helicopter is a real teaser of what else lies ahead in this near perfect record. The inviting beats crackle behind swells of organ and bliss and Cox voice blends gracefully with the organic haze. It is the sort of song that you might turn to when your car goes off the road into a ditch and you have to wade knee deep through the toad muck back to safety. An image 4AD might themselves savour!! Read more

Zulu Report: On Serving Up The Web’s Most Delicious Ear Candy

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… Read more

Zulu Report: Speaking Modern English & Hearing Local Natives

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

!!!’s AM/FM video, directed by Black Dice, from the new album Strange Weather Isn’t It? (Warp)

On !!!’s fourth outing the band pulls out one of the classic rock moves by recording Strange Weather Isn’t It? in Berlin.  Does this album sound particularly like a Bowie, Iggy or Lou album? No not really, but that’s OK because Strange Weather is full of dense, rhythmic party bangers designed to carry from the late night right into the early morning, as this first single AM/FM makes clear. The colourful, psychadelic video was directed by NY art pranksters Black Dice, which makes brings !!! back to their roots as Williamsburg loft project. It’s a great late summer video, guaranteed to make you feel like somebody slipped something into your drink. Enjoy. Read more

Zulu Report: This Week’s Ammo For Discerning Vancouver Ears

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

KLAXONS’ Echoes video from the new album Surfing The Void (Polydor).

The UK music press is renowned for making and breaking the career of many a pop band. NME magazine in particular can oscillate pretty wildly betwixt adoring a group and destroying that same group, within a short span of time. Let us know prepare a more measured, North American critique of UK “nu-ravers” Klaxons. To be honest, I have no idea what nu-rave is supposed to mean – that micro-genre didn’t cross across the Atlantic I guess. I don’t know what genre Klaxons fall under as their colourful, bouncy music encompasses elements of post-punk dance, straight up pop, and also a skewed sort of post-millennial psychedelia. Surfing The Void is an album as at home on the dance floor as at home or through ear-buds, a colourful and clever blend of poppy harmonies and trashy dance floor rippers. All of a sudden surfing the void doesn’t sound like such a scary prospect. Read more

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