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

“I Follow Rivers” from Lykke Li’s new album Wounded Rhymes (WEA).

Sweden’s Lykke Li made a big impression with her debut Youth Novels. It was an unexpectedly fun album of bouncy, moody Swedish pop, as indelibly catchy as that nation’s pop royalty, ABBA. Wounded Rhymes, her follow up, is still catchy and fun but this time Li probes the darker side of love. She seems to have aged beyond her years between these two albums, and as the title suggests she is something of a black and blue survivor. Musically, production is handled once again by BP&J member Bjorn Tittling, and so the album sounds understandably great, with nods to girl groups, R&B and classic Brill Building pop song tropes. It’s a great progression – we still get the fun the sexy bounce of her debut, but with the added depth of tracks like the haunting “I Know Places” and the back room sleaze of “Get Some.” If youth knows no pain, it’s time to call Lykke Li all grown up.

The Playlist

BURZUM Fallen LP (Black On Black)

For those who like their metal black and brutal we have this lovely, 180 gram LP from convicted killer, ex-prisoner and black metal legend Burzum.

THE DISMEMBERMENT PLAN Emergency And I vinyl reissue (Barsuk)

Dismemberment Plan’s early aughties classic has experienced something of a renaissance, as evidenced by this lovely gatefold jacket re-issue, containing a download coupon.

SPACEMEN Transparent Radiation vinyl reissue (Fire)

Awwww yes, Zulu faves Spacemen 3 get the reissue vinyl reissue treatment they so deserve. It is no longer necessary to pay exorbitant ebay prices for this classic, undeniably great moment from such a wonderful, psych-blues band.

V/A Brazil Bossa Beat! Bossa Nova And The Story Of Elenco Records, Brazil LP (Soul Jazz)

Those fine people over at Soul Jazz see fit to give us this treasure of a collection, a two LP set of obscure and hard to find bossa nova classics, complete with great sleevenotes and biographies. This is a nice set!

NO GOLD s/t (Unfamiliar)

This loooong in the works record from local yoga-rockers No Gold is finally available. Locals No Gold are a staff favourite, and this self titled, beautifully assembled full lengther is a delight to those of us who’ve long wanted to see this band step up to the big leagues. Awesome.

LCD SOUNDSYSTEM The London Sessions (EMI/DFA)

If you gotta go out, do it in style. LCD frontman James Murphy says he’ll soon be retiring the project, and if that’s so it makes this killer set all the more precious. The London Sessions features classic tracks from the band’s 3 impeccable albums performed raw and fierce, like a last gasp of breath before the big sleep.

DUM DUM GIRLS He Gets Me High (Sub Pop)

He Gets Me High is a great four song ep that shows Dee Dee the Dum Dum Girl expanding her sound beyond the distorto-scuzz ghetto to embrace herself as a powerful frontwoman. This gal can sing! And The Smiths cover is an unexpected delight.

SOFT MOON s/t (Captured Tracks)

Soft Moon have the whole Joy Division/Bauhaus vibe down to a tee which they mix with gloomy, kraut rock-like repetition. Fans of Wild Nothing and Blank Dogs will find a lot to enjoy here.

V/A Before The Fall: Twenty Four Songs Covered (Ace Records)

Manchester’s The Fall are a punk rock institution. No on really knows how many albums and singles they’ve put out over the last 25 years, nor how many members have passed through ME Smith’s ranks. This is a great compilation of the original versions of songs at one time covered by The Fall. What a set – from Sister Sledge to The Kinks to Beefheart to Pete Seeger, this is a lot of fun.

The Gig

Sat March 26 ESBEN AND THE WITCH at The WALDORF

The Waldorf is quickly establishing itself as the city’s premier night time hang spot. Fitting, then, that they’re hosting the UK’s dubbed out gloomers Esben And The Witch first Vancouver show. This will be the first chance to check out this much hyped new outfit bringing the out the goth in all of us. Be there.

The Glance

Tue MAR 22
GOLD PANDA – FORTUNE
MEN – BILTMORE

Thu MAR 24
TATE RADIO – BILTMORE

Fri MAR 25
ELECTRIC SIX – COMMODORE
AKRON FAMILY – BILTMORE

Sat MAR 26
THE PARLOTONES – BILTMORE
ESBEN AND THE WITCH – WALDORF

Sun MAR 27
TELEKINESIS – MEDIA CLUB

Mon MAR 28
TORO Y MOI + BRAIDS – BILTMORE

Tue MAR 29
ACID MOTHERS TEMPLE – BILTMORE
SHARON VAN ETTEN – MEDIA

Wed MAR 30
SAY HI – MEDIA CLUB
O’DEATH + STRANGE BOYS – BILTMORE

Thu MAR 31
MOUNT KIMBIE – BILTMORE
THE DODOS – RICKSHAW