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

Here We Go Magic’s video for Collector from their new album Pigeons (Secretly Canadian).

My people, we are living in the age of overproduction. Apple’s iPad boasts that it can hold more media than could be consumed in a lifetime – it’s a little daunting to try and make informed decisions isn’t it? Let me then ease your burden by saying that Here We Go Magic are truly a unique band. Pigeons, their second album, is informed by Eno’s poppiest moments of 4th world music. Main man Luke Temple has a remarkable talent for balancing unlikely arrangements and instrumentation (who knew that proggy synthesizers could sit comfortably alongside kalimba?).  Pigeons is anchored by driving kraut-beats and Temple’s ear for pop hooks.  Yes, it’s an overcrowded world of pop that we live in, but here’s a bit of good that you can depend on.

The Playlist

JOHN MAUS Love Is Real (Upset The Rhythm)
Warbled, 80’s informed bedroom pop, but with a vision and clarity rarely encountered in the crowded “chillwave” genre.

LINDSTROM AND CHRISTABELLE Real Life Is No Cool (Smalltown)
This summer’s ultimate post-disco dance floor killer/chiller knocks me down then lifts me up onto my dancin’ feets again.

SLEIGH BELLS Treats (Mom+Pop)
Sounding like a younger, spunkier YYYeahs, this electro-rock duo blasts its songs into your cranium whether you want them to or not.

STARS The Five Ghosts (Soft Revolution)
The most successful BSS-offshoot band delights me on this brooding slow burner album of heady torch songs.

NAKED ON THE VAGUE Heaps Of Nothing (Siltbreeze)
I am in love with the dark post punk throb that this Aussie duo produces, and having the mighty Siltbreeze label’s approval only adds to their greatness.

COCO ROSIE Grey Oceans (Sub Pop)
The twisted, obtuse, moustachioed sister duo of Coco Rosie confound and delight the masses with a concept album about environmental disaster and sexual desire.

BEACH FOSSILS s/t (Captured Tracks)
Snatched up by the esteemed Captured Tracks label, Beach Fossils are a couple of frisky NY youngsters making a poppy racket that I’m down with.

GASLAMP KILLER All Killer (B-Music)
Fresh off the success of the mighty Gonfasufi album, the Gaslamp Killer scrambles together a hazy, third world mix of beats, snakecharm chants and desert ragas.

THE FALL Your Future Our Clutter (Domino)
M.E. Smith and his ragtag gang of youngsters again sound different, sound the same, sound incredible.  If you know The Fall then you know you need to know this.

THIEVES LIKE US Again And Again (Shelflife)
Elegant and capable synth-pop from this Euro threesome, for the discerning pop addict.

The Gig

Neil Hamburger at the Biltmore on Saturday July 10th.

Do yourself a favour and go see Neil Hamburger ply his trade at the Biltmore this Saturday. The anti-comic channels the kind of head scratching, is-he-serious reaction pioneered by the two great Andys – Warhol and Kaufman.  Sample joke: “What do you get if you cross Elton John with a sabre-toothed tiger…I don’t know, but you’d better keep it away from your ass”. Look, I’m not saying it’s highbrow, but it’s guaranteed to be a good time.

The Glance

Sat JUL 10
VICTORIA SKA FEST – FISHBONE w/ Black Seeds, Cherry Poppin’ Daddies – SHIP POINT(Victoria)
NEIL HAMBURGER – BILTMORE

Sun JUL 11
VICTORIA SKA FEST – KATCHAFIRE – SHIP POINT(Victoria)
SOULS OF MISCHIEF – FORTUNE SOUND CLUB
FOL CHEN – MEDIA CLUB

Mon JUL 12
QUINTRON & MISS PUSSYCAT – BILTMORE

Wed JUL 14
POINTED STICKS + DISHRAGS – UKRANIAN HALL
ARIEL PINK’S HAUNTED GRAFFITI – BILTMORE
MAPS & ATLASES – MEDIA CLUB
THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS – VOGUE
MONTELL JORDAN – POP OPERA

Thur JUL 15
DIE ANTWOORD – VENUE- WE ARE SOLD OUT
THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS – VOGUE
PLUMP DJS – CELEBRITIES

Fri JUL 16
CAT EMPIRE – COMMODORE- WE’RE SOLD OUT

Fri JUL 16 – 18
VANCOUVER FOLK FESTIVAL – JERICHO BEACH

Sun JUL 18
CAT EMPIRE – COMMODORE
SWINGIN’ UTTERS – VENUE

Mon JUL 19
THAO AND THE GET DOWN – BILTMORE

Tue JUL 20
ADMIRAL RADLEY – MEDIA CLUB

Thu JUL 22
MAHJONNG – MEDIA CLUB

Thu JUL 22
16 BIT – FORTUNE

Fri JUL 23
BISON BC – BILTMORE

Fri JUL 23-Sun 25
BONFIRE MUSIC FESTIVAL 2010 – THE MOON FARM

Sat JUL 24
MGMT – COMMODORE – SOLD OUT
BEAR IN HEAVEN – BILTMORE
RON REY’S 50TH – RICKSHAW

Sun JUL 25
THE OBITS + NIGHT MARCHERS – RICKSHAW
HERE WE GO MAGIC – MEDIA CLUB – CANCELED REFUNDS AT P.O.P.

Mon JUL 26
KINKY FRIEDMAN – BILTMORE
MARK FARINA – GINGER

Thu JUL 29
ALEX CHILTON TRIBUTE SHOW: Magnetic West, Wilderness Years, Vancouver Nights – WISE HALL
GANGA GIRI – BILTMORE

Fri JUL 30
100 MONKEYS – VENUE

JUL 30-AUG 2
ARTS WELL FESTIVAL – WELLS + BAKERVILLE