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…

Zola Jesus’ Sea Talk from Valusia (Sacred Bones).

Undoubtedly, one of 2010’s surprising success stories was Zola Jesus, the moniker of 21 year old Nika Rosa Danilova. As Zola Jesus, she released 3 eps of excellent gothy pop. Abandoning the more suspect aspects of the genre (I’m talking about the purposely smeared make up, ridiculously teased hair and the generally dour vibe), Danilova builds songs up from a foundation of driving drum machine rhythms and layer upon layer of synth. The result is a refreshing and affecting world of pop that’s pretty much unlike anything else going on right now. Valusia was a favourite at the store, and we’re psyched to see what she cooks up in next year. Enjoy.

The Playlist

It’s time to put 2010 to bed. Here’s a last look at the records that got heavy play at the store. Check out individual staff best of lists here: http://www.zulurecords.com/staff.php

LIARS Sisterworld (Mute/EMI)

Consistently great, consistently strange, consistently doin’ their own thing completely, we loved Sisterworld for it’s creepy take on the dank, sleazy underbelly of LA life.

SWANS My Father Will Guide Me Up A Rope To The Sky (Young God)

M Gira revives his badass Swans moniker and shows that fatherhood and grey hairs have done nothing to dull his lethal edges.

LCD SOUNDSYSTEM This Is Happening (DFA)

Supposedly This…is LCD’s swan song. That would be a shame – James Murphy’s disco punk project has been a musical highlight of the second half of this decade. But if that’s the case, what a note to go out on. Pow Pow Pow!

SPOON Transference (Merge)

The band they say is good that they run the risk of being totally overlooked. Not by the staff of Zulu. Spoon is consistently great, and it was nice to hear the band get loose and take some left turn risks on some songs, such as on the dubby, rubbery “Who Makes Your Money.”

NO UFO’S Mind Control (Nice Up Int’l)

Arriving just barely in time to qualify as a 2010 release, the latest cassette of aural goodness from local lap-topper No UFO’s is another stunning sonic collage. Mind Control and Soft Coast were highlights of this year; 2011 is looking pretty good this local guy.

THEE OH SEES Warm Slime (In The Red)

One of the few bands that all Zulu staffers can agree is great, Thee Oh Sees’ bazillionth release, Warm Slime, is a frenetic good time.

WILD NOTHING Gemini (Sacred Bones)

Gemini has one foot in the 80s and another food on my heart! There was not a more measured and assured study of fuzzy, dreamy guitar pop than anything else to come out this year than Wild Nothing’s Gemini. People, get excited with me!

DUFFY AND THE DOUBTERS s/t (Triple Crown)

We are blessed to live in a city with such an overwhelming abundance of incredible musical talent. Or maybe we’re cursed, because its so hard to take it all in. Duffy (of Ladyhawk fame) goes back to the garage to bang out some nasty rockers. We liked it so much we asked them to play in our store!

MAGIK MARKERS/SIC ALPS Split 12” (Yik Yak)
A wonderful pairing from two exemplary contemporary guitar-wrangling acts, this limited tour support split was a hit at the store. The Markers sound druggy and bummed out while the Alps druggy and enthused, I love it!

The Gig

The upcoming show that we’re really looking forward to…

Mon FEB 28 WILD NOTHING + ABE VIGODA – BILTMORE

Yes I know it’s not until the end of February, but we can’t help but get excited that Wild Nothing will be rolling through town on atop a cloud of dreamy, fuzzy, guitar pop haze! Definitely a show that will be great, get on this and buy tickets in advance. You’ll be bummed to be the one guy or girl who misses out on this. Wild Nothing, for the second time on this list.

The Glance

Mon DEC 27
AVICII – GARFINKLES (WHISTLER)

Tue DEC 28
CALVIN HARRIS DJ SET – VENUE – WE ARE SOLD OUT

Wed DEC 29
LISSIE – BILTMORE – WE ARE SOLD OUT

Fri DEC 31
CARIBBEAN NEW YEARS – SULLIVAN HALL
W2 LIGHTS NYE – W2 – WE ARE SOLD OUT
MSTRKRFT & FELIX CARTAL – HASTINGS RACECOURSE

JANUARY

Thu JAN 6
WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM – RICKSHAW
ZAAC PICK – BILTMORE

Tue JAN 11
LITTLE DRAGON – FORTUNE

Wed JAN 12
SKRILLEX – GARFINKLES (WHISTLER)

Thu JAN 13
RED CEDAR – BILTMORE

Fri JAN 14
RICK ROSS – GOSSIP

Sat JAN 15
SARAH HARMER – COMMODORE
SUBCON FEAT. DOWNLOAD – RICKSHAW
HUUN HUUR TU – CHRIST CHURCH

Sun JAN 16
PETER WOLF CRIER – MEDIA

Wed JAN 19
HANDSOME FAMILY – BILTMORE

Thu JAN 20
EXCISION – GOSSIP

Sat JAN 22
WOVENHAND – BILTMORE
SASHA – COMMODORE
THE THERMALS – MEDIA CLUB

Mon JAN 24
DARWIN DEEZ – MEDIA CLUB
WEEN – QE THEATRE

Tue JAN 25
DEVIL DRIVER – VENUE

Wed JAN 26
MARINA & THE DIAMONDS – COMMODORE

Thu JAN 27
THE WOOD BROTHERS – MEDIA

Fri JAN 28
THE PACK AD – BILTMORE
BIG RIVER – SHARK CLUB
BOBBY LONG – MEDIA

Sun JAN 30
INDIA CALLING – PLAYHOUSE

Mon JAN 31
TENNIS – MEDIA

FEBRUARY

Wed FEB 2
DANIEL LANOIS – VENUE

Thu FEB 3
RYAN DAHLE – VENUE

Sat FEB 5
THE BLOW – BILTMORE

Thu FEB 10
CHROMEO – COMMODORE

Fri FEB 11
NICOLE ATKINS & THE BLACK SEA – MEDIA CLUB
SEBADOH – RICKSHAW

Tue FEB 15
GANG OF FOUR – VENUE – WE ARE SOLD OUT

Wed FEB 16
GODSPEED YOU BLACK EMPEROR – VOGUE – WE ARE SOLD OUT
SMITH WESTERNS – BILTMORE

Thu FEB 17
BEST COAST + WAVVES – RICKSHAW

Fri FEB 18
PLANTS & ANIMALS – COMMODORE

Fri FEB 19
YO LA TENGO – RICKSHAW
THE CORONAS – BILTMORE

Fri FEB 25
BIFFY CLYRO – VENUE
MAN OR ASTROMAN? – BILTMORE
MACEO PARKER – COMMODORE

Sat FEB 26
JIM BRYSON & THE WEAKERTHANS BAND – BILTMORE

Mon FEB 28
WILD NOTHING + ABE VIGODA – BILTMORE