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

CAPITOL 6 – FEVER/HENRY’S OPUS 7”

Capitol 6 “Fever” from Light Organ Records on Vimeo.

Fever couldn’t have come out at a better time. The balance between melancholy and merriment on this track is timed perfectly with those last few days before you have to admit the summer is coming to an end. Local band Capitol 6 have encapsulated the decline of the season in under five minutes, leaving you feeling nostalgic yet contented. Fever is the song that gets the credits rolling to another glorious Vancouver summer. Flip the record in two weeks, when those first leaves start to fall and you’ve got the perfect soundtrack to the opening credits of autumn. Where the beautiful, almost hypnotic guitar riff was in Fever, is a longing organ line in Henry’s Opus. Get it while it’s still hot.

The Playlist

OH NO! YOKO Pau Pau (unsigned)

Though these Abbotsford natives aren’t even old enough to be in some of the venues they’ve been scoring, Oh No! Yoko have put together an impressively mature debut EP. Don’t let titles like ‘90s Kids’ and ‘Boyhood’, trick you… these three lads are far from sounding like Hanson. Yes Pau Pau is endearing… but it’s not innocent.

PSYCHEDELIC HORSESHIT Laced (Light Organ Records)

Psychedlic Horseshit are sort of what the band in your neighbour’s garage would sound like if they were actually good. While I’m not sure there would be too distinct a difference in quality if you were to play this album out of crappy computer speakers or not… chances are they don’t go nearly loud enough to enjoy Laced at its full potential. Laced is raw, unpolished, imperfect… and that’s why it’s so damn good.

BELONG – Common Era (Kranky)

Common Era is perfect for the end of a long day. Whether it was too much sun, or your Windsor knot was tied too tight… go make your self a cup of earl grey and zone out with this one. The dreaminess of Belong’s sound is mesmerizing, but the sharp Joy Division-esque drum work keeps it from becoming sleepy.

41ST AND HOME Raised by Wolves (unsigned)

While the album name may insinuate a band of ruffians, 41st and Home are just some good kids making good music. Participants of the Peak Performance Project’s Band Camp, frontman Thom Kolb says the band “probably got ten years of knowledge in the few days we were up there”… this new found wisdom shows itself on not only the album, but in their live show as well. Think of a younger Arcade Fire, but with half the members.

PLANNINGTOROCK W (DFA)

If you’re going to judge one band by their name this week, make sure it’s Planningtorock. Sure, the name is a bit gimmicky, but it delivers on its promise. Don’t be fooled now, this isn’t the sort of rock you will find in your uncle’s record collection. W is more of a Gen X type of rock. Electronically driven but with the same badass vibe as the classics.

AMON TOBIN Isam (Ninja Tune)

If Harmony Korine were to make an electronic album, it might just sound like this. Spontaneous but calculated. Clean but so dirty. This one has me stumped… and I think I like it.

The Gig

Sat Aug 27 JAPANDROIDS (Polyvinyl) at The Waldorf

Even though these local boys are, well, big in Japan… you can expect the same calibre of live show that was first seen in Van at their intimate DIY sets five years ago. Japandroids can turn even the meekest wallflower into a pit fiend. Pay the two bucks for coat check and get rid of anything and everything that could potentially hinder you from going all out and experiencing Japandroids in all their sweaty glory.

The Glance

Thu AUG 18 OBITS w/ DISAPPEARS + HARD FEELINGS – BILTMORE
Thu AUG 18 CALVERTON – FORTUNE
Fri AUG 19 SOUND CLASH OF THE TITANS – SQUAMISH
Fri AUG 19 SIA – COMMODORE
Fri AUG 19 SILLKIE – W2
Fri AUG 19 MISTER HEAVENLY – BILTMORE
Fri AUG 19 100 MONKEYS – VENUE
Sat AUG 20 YOUNG PACIFIC – BILTMORE
Sat AUG 20 ART VS. SCIENCE – FORTUNE
Sat AUG 20 COMMIX – RED ROOM
Tue AUG 23 THE DECEMBERISTS – MALKIN BOWL
Tue AUG 23 M.O.P – FORTUNE
Thu AUG 25 TOPLESS GAY LOVE TECHNO PARTY – BILTMORE
Thu Aug 25 TROUBLE ANDREW – FORTUNE
Fri AUG 26 ZED’S DEAD – GOSSIP
Sat AUG 27 JAPANDROIDS – WALDORF
Sat AUG 27 DJ HEATHER – OPEN STUDIOS
Sun AUG 28 BEN HARPER – MALKIN BOWL – WE ARE SOLD OUT
Sun AUG 28 KREAYSHAWN – FORTUNE
Mon AUG 29 PROTOMEN – BILTMORE
Wed AUG 31 REV. HORTON HEAT – COMMODORE

SEPTEMBER

Thu SEP 01 THE JIM JONES REVUE – BILTMORE
Thu SEP 01 MORD FUSTANG – FORTUNE
Fri SEP 02 CHARLES BRADLEY – BILTMORE – WE ARE SOLD OUT
Mon SEP 05 THE WALKMEN – VENUE
Mon SEP 05 THE KILLS – COMMODORE – WE ARE SOLD OUT
Mon SEP 05 THEE OH SEES – BILTMORE
Mon SEP 05 VREID OF KAMPFAR – RICKSHAW
Tue SEP 06 DENNIS COFFEY – BILTMORE – CANCELLED
Wed SEP 07 THE HORRORS – VENUE)