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

Enjoy “Little” from Danger Mouse, Sparklehorse and David Lynch’s hypnotic collaboration – The Dark Night Of The Soul (EMI).

Phew, what to say about Dark Night Of The Soul, a project so convoluted by commerce and steeped in tragedy?  Essentially it’s an album brought into being through wunderkind producer Danger Mouse and Mark Linkous of Sparklehorse’s desire to collaborate.  David Lynch, a Sparklehorse fan, somehow became involved, as did a host of different singers – Iggy Pop, Julian Casablancas, Wayne Coyne, Vic Chesnutt to name but a few.  Strange bedfellows perhaps, but an intriguing mix of characters to be sure. Unfortunately, label problems arouse which stalled the album’s release date.  Worse yet, Linkous and Chesnutt both committed suicide prior to this album’s release.  Tragic backstory aside, these thirteen songs are haunting, understated and really a unique meeting of the minds.  As if I needed to say it, Dark Night Of The Soul is late night music. Listen to the album in its entirety here.

The Playlist

Click the links for a listen…

WHITE LUNG It’s The Evil (self released)

White Lung are the local midnight howlers, back alley prowlers, guitar manglers that enjoy playing their music is the scuzziest corners of our fine city.  It’s The Evil finds them sounding especially vicious, as if the spirit of Billy Karen were staring down on them from DIY heaven. Check ‘em out above, ripping it up live and old skool!

Various Artists Nigeria Afrobeat (Soundway)
From the cradle of civilization comes this outstanding compilation of Nigerian trance-guitar work outs.  Phew, this is a transcendent set of tunes with none of than spiritual father Fela kicking off the set in typically remarkable form.

S.T.R.E.E.T.S. Invaders From Gnars (Riotstyle)
In a perfect world S.T.R.E.E.T.S. would have their own special edition of Guitar Hero.  Honestly, this defunct Vancouver skate punk outfit kick started a zeitgeist that continues to spread and no one could ask for a better swan song than the absolutely shredding Invaders.

HRTK Marry Me Tonight (Blast First Petite)
Produced by the late great guitar-wrangling genius Roland S. Howard, HRTK (aka Hate Rock Trio) tap into that great lineage of swampy, nasty sleaze rock – think PJ Harvey, Sisters Of Mercy and of course The Birthday Party (Howard’s band with Nick Cave).

KATHRYN CALDER Are You My Mother? (FU:M).
Part time New Pornographer, Immaculate Machine-er and a member of the Vic High Players in high school, Calder steps out on her own on this bouncy, poppy solo debut.  Calder’s voice is a jewel to behold, especially when backed up by Ladyhawk, Nico Case and the New Pornos.

WAVVES King Of The Beach (Fat Possum)
Nathan Williams slacks and coughs his way to the top of the indie rock pantheon, bong and ironic t shirt in tow.  This dude makes it seem so easy to just sit back and take it easy.

TOBACCO Maniac Meat (Anticon)
Tobacco (a Black Moth Super Rainbow-er) breathes life into 90s/00s indie hip hop label Anticon with his freaked out, mashed up, cranked out weirdness.  I love how loopy and fucked this this guy sounds.  I’m addicted to Tobacco.

PERFUME GENIUS Learning (Matador)
Fans of Sufjan’s style of hushed, spare singer songwriter moments will find a lot to enjoy in Perfume Genius.  Unassuming and understated, Learning is a grower with charms that slowly engulf you.

PVT Church With No Magic (Warp)
We at Zulu are fans of the kind of understated, slow-growing subliminal head space that bands such as Pantha Du Prince, The Field, Panda Bear, etc.  PVT occupy that same abstract territory – perfect for washing the dishes, where the bobbing and sloshing sounds mix with the ethereal ambience.

AUTOLUX Transit Transit (TBD)
From the dawn of the 30th century, Autolux travel back to our present time to tell us about the future.  Hypnotic rhythms and layers of synth washes,  I haven’t felt this optimistic about the future in a long time.

The Gig

NYC’s Oneida play the Anza Club, Sunday August 22nd, with Cowards and Magneticring

There are a lot of great shows to see, and to my eyes Oneida looks to be one of the best of the bunch.  NYC’s Oneida are a power trio that specialize in trance inducing, krautrock workouts, the kind of jams subtly unfold and reveal slight shifts in rhythm and cadence.  The result is electrifying.  Having goth punks Cowards and synth meister Magneticring fill out the bill make a sweet deal that much sweeter. Make sure you’re at the Anza on Sunday.

Now watch as they tear a new one through their classic psych-trance rager, Each One Teach One and try to tell me this won’t be a killer show.

The Glance

The better shows to see in the next two weeks…

Thu AUG 19
MOONDOGGIES – BILTMORE
HOLD STEADY – VOGUE
BASS KLEPH – SHINE
ALEJANDRO ESCOVEDO – VENUE

Fri AUG 20
AN21 – CELEBRITIES
KLAAS – POP OPERA

Sat AUG 21
DOBBY DOBSON – ROYAL LEGION HALL
CASIOKIDS w/ Light Pollution, Einar Stokka – MEDIA CLUB
DIGABLE PLANETS – BILTMORE
YACHT (Boat Cruise) – BURRARD QEEN

Sun AUG 22
BORIS – RICKSHAW- WE’RE SOLD OUT
THE SWELL SEASON – MALKIN BOWL
JOKERS OF THE SCENE – VENUE
ONEIDA w/ Cowards and magneticring – THE ANZA

Wed AUG 24
MOGWAI film screening – PACIFIC CINEMA

Thu AUG 26
WAVVES – BILTMORE
MAT KEARNEY – RIO THEATRE
DATSIK – FORTUNE
STRUNG OUT w/ Rufio, We Are The Union – RICKSHAW

Fri AUG 27
CALVERTRON – POP OPERA
FELIX CARTAL – CELEBRITIES
NAUTICAL DISASTER BOAT CRUISE – ATIBI BOAT
VAMPIRE WEEKEND, BEACH HOUSE, DUM DUM GIRLS – MALKIN BOWL – WE ARE SOLD OUT

Sat AUG 28
VAMPIRE WEEKEND, BEACH HOUSE, DUM DUM GIRLS – MALKIN BOWL – WE ARE SOLD OUT
BUSINESS – VENUE

Sun AUG 29
MUMIY TROLL w/ Run Run Run – *VENUE CHANGE* CLUB 560
MICKEY AVALON – FORTUNE SOUND CLUB
ANGRY SAMOANS – VENUE

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