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

Bonnie Prince Billy and the Cairo Gang play “With Cornstalks Or Among them/The Sounds Are Always Begging” from their new album The Wonder Show Of The World (Drag City). Will Oldham is a master, plain and simple.  Sure, his output can be daunting for the uninitiated – he’s put out something like 40 albums over the last fifteen years or so, most of them on the venerable Drag City label – but the good news is that the man rarely falters. The quality of his tunes is consistently high. I’m hardly going out on a limb when I say that his latest, a collaboration with The Cairo Gang, is both a good starting point for the newbies and also a fine addition for anyone who’s already familiar with his work. Oldham’s music has a special place in my heart. Several years ago I had the good fortune to go on a road trip down the West Coast with several close friends, and Oldham’s lonesome, world-weary music was a constant on our stereo. I have a particularly fond memory of going to the El Camion taco stand in North Seattle, where I enjoyed several fish tacos. I can still taste the Conchinita Pibil- divine! I was left with a bittersweet taste, however, glad to be heading home but saddened by our city’s complete lack of taco stands. At least I’ve still got the music…

The Playlist

10 Records to Look Forward to in 2010

PANTHA DU PRINCE Black Noise (Rough Trade)
The transfixing, blissed-out post-techno of this German minimalist wizard perfectly soundtracks the bliss I feel as I hit up Los Margaritas for lunch, conveniently located across the street from Zulu.

GALAXIE 500 Today (20/20/20)
The classic debut album, reissued and now featuring an additional disc of primo bonus, unreleased material.  I listen to “Temperature’s Rising” while chomping down on a four delicious Ronny Russell tacos at my beloved neighbourhood taqueria, Bandidas.

EXCEPTER Presidence (Paw Tracks)
These NY weirdos warp sounds beyond recognition and then lay down a fat dub beat over top of it all. The first track takes the cake: “Teleportation” is a 31 minute fried-ride.  I listen to it while I peer through the window of Mexico Rico. I don’t go in.

EDDY CURRENT SUPPRESSION RING Rush To Relax (Goner)
I love this band of Aussies.  They channel the catchiest parts of The Fall and The Buzzcocks into unforgettable 3 minute pop nuggets.  Coincidentally, it takes me just three minutes to scarf a plate of P.M.A. tacos at Budgies.

SADE Soldier Of Love (Sony)
Sade Adhu can do no wrong in my book. Soldier Of Love is a welcome return from a woman who is the beautiful female embodiment of smoky chipotle sauce: a flavour hot and sexy, one which I never grow tired of.

MAGIK MARKERS/SIC ALPS Split Tour LP (Yik Yak)
The two sides of this split finds the Markers and the Alps in great form – fuzzed out, post-psychedelic greatness from two modern masters.  I put the Alps’ final track, “The Greatest,” and head down Cornwall to hit up the Taco Shack for a delightful plate of you know what.

GIL SCOTT HERON I’m New Here (XL)
Who’s to say how many tacos this man has eaten? Scott Heron has travelled the world and fought more battles than can be listed here.  Should he ever come to town, the least I can do for him is treat him to lunch at Topanga Canyon for a plate of whatever tacos he chooses.

THE FLYING BURRITO BROTHERS Gilded Palace of Sin (A&M)
I grow tired and weary. There’s a lot of ground to cover in this city if you want to really investigate your Mexi-options.  Gram Parson’s soulful, hurting voice speaks to me on a deeper level as I reluctantly ascend the staircase to the Tinseltown food court and head over to Taco Time.

JOANNA NEWSOM Have One On Me (Drag City)
Joanna Newsom – she’s untouchable.  She’s a modern master who makes the triple album format actually seem like a good idea. A longtime SF resident, this is a woman who knows a quality Tenderloin Taco plate. Last night I was at The Narrow on Main eating fish tacos, and the DJ cued up a Newsom track. Suffice to say, it was an excellent meal.

BILL CALLAHAN Rough Travel For A Rare Thing (Sea Note).
A killer vinyl only live album from Callahan. Methinks tacos are no rare thing and present no rough travel for Callahan, currently a resident of Tex-Mex cuisine capital of the world, Austin TX.  As for me, my search continues.

The Gig

The one show we’re really looking forward to checking out…

Beach House at the Rickshaw Theatre on Sun Apr 11th

Here they come – the darlings of blogs, Pitchfork, and you and me too! Beach House bring back the dreamy, hazy sound that made Galaxie 500 and Mazzy Star so great. Teen Dream is already already regarded as a highlight of 2010, and there’s no reason to disagree.  I saw Beach House rock Pat’s Pub years ago, and since then they’ve steadily honed their craft, and so there’s no doubt in my mind that they’ll envelope the Rickshaw in their sleepy, organ drenched sound. It’s going to be one of those shows that people will long for after the fact. Be there.

The Glance

These are the better shows to see in the next two weeks…

Wed APR 07

JONSI (from SIGUR ROS) – VOGUE

Thu APR 08

THE BALCONIES / GHOSTKEEPER- PIT PUB

Fri APR 09

TREASURE FINGERS – CELEBRITIES
THE RUBY SUNS – BILTMORE
THE JESSICA STEWART FEW- WISE HALL
FLATLINERS- MEDIA CLUB
DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN – RICKSHAW – WE ARE SOLD OUT

Sat APR 10

SIA – COMMODORE – TICKETS AT DOOR
LITTLE DRAGON – BILTMORE
WE ARE THE CITY – 560 SEYMOUR

Sun APR 11

PASSION PIT – COMMODORE – WE ARE SOLD OUT
BEACH HOUSE – RICKSHAW – WE ARE SOLD OUT
LMFAO – GOSSIP
WILL I AM (DJ SET) – VENUE

Mon APR 12

MiiKE SNOW – SHINE
KING KHAN – VENUE

Tue APR 13

THE XX – COMMODORE – WE ARE SOLD OUT
THE XX (DJ SET) – SHINE

Wed APR 14

FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE – COMMODORE – WE ARE SOLD OUT

Thu APR 15

FRANK TURNER – MEDIA CLUBWE ARE SOLD OUT<
WE ARE WOLVES – BILTMORE
JOHN BROWN’S BODY- RICHARDS
OVER KILL – RED ROOM

Fri APR 16

DIRTY SOUTH – CELEBRITIES