Nashville, Tenn. — Hailed by The New York Times as one of the artists at the forefront of the neo-folk movement, the Duhks continue the evolution with their fourth album, Fast Paced World, (August 19th / Sugar Hill Records). “We traveled from Winnipeg, locked ourselves in a Nashville basement, pooled our ideas together and invented a new sound,” says new frontwoman and bilingual, budding soul queen, Sarah Dugas (she replaced Jessee Havey in 2007).

Produced by Jay Joyce, who joins an impressive line of producers (Béla Fleck, Tim O’Brien) before him, the Duhks have created their most energetic, fully realized, unearthly album to date. Seriously. “Jay’s basement studio was like something out of the Star Trek Enterprise,” adds founder and clawhammer banjoist, Leonard Podolak, who, in the past, “traditionally stuck close to the acoustic sound of our instruments. This record is a beautiful mosaic of different ideas and soundscapes.”

Leonard, Sarah, Tania Elizabeth (fiddle, mandolin), guitarist Jordan McConnell and new worldbeat drummer Christian Dugas (Sarah’s brother) have melded French lounge pop (”Toujours Vouloir”) and scratchy soul meditations on the Galveston flood in 1900 (”Mighty Storm”) and sleeping (”Sleepin’ Is All I Wanna Do”) with the soundtrack of the weirdest 1930s Marlene Dietrich movie you never saw (”This Fall”), and beyond. “We’re all proud of this record and can’t wait to release it to the world,” adds Sarah.

“Fast Paced World” by The Duhks was released today on Sugar Hill Records today, August 19.

In the space between the Grammy-nominated Migrations (2006, Sugar Hill Records) and now, the Juno-winning band has gained critical love (”overall virtuosity that could make them stars” – Boston Globe), toured the world and earned a solid fan base – no doubt due to their manic, spirited live shows. (Check YouTube for John Paul Jones joining the band for “Whole Lotta Love”).

Environmental issues have always been a passion for the band, inspiring them to launch The Duhks Sustainability Project (www.greenduhks.com). The goal is to “tour as sustainably as possible – Biodiesel, local organic farmers, sustainable eco-conscious clothing,” says Tania, who was recently invited by Bonnaroo to speak about sustainability during the 2008 festival.

The Duhks on tour:

• Sep 05 — Great Barrington, MA – Club Helsinki
• Sep 06 — Hoboken, NJ – Maxwell’s
• Sep Oct — New York, NY – Joe’s Pub
• Sep 11 — Annapolis, MD – Ram’s Head on Stage
• Sep 12 — Philadelphia, PA – Tin Angel
• Sep 13 — Pittsburgh, PA – Thunderbird Café
• Sep 25 — Oakland, CA – Yoshi’s at Jack London Square
• Sep 29 — Seattle, WA – Tractor Tavern
• Oct 03 — Homer, AK – The Downeast Saloon
• Oct 04 — Anchorage, AK – Alaska Center for the Performing Arts
• Oct 05 — Kodiak, AK – Gerald C. Wilson Auditorium
• Oct 08 — Blacksburg, VA – The Lantern
• Oct 10 — Pittsboro, NC – Shakori Hills Grassroots festival
• Oct 11 — Pittsboro, NC – Shakori Hills Grassroots festival
• Oct 12 — Pittsboro, NC – Shakori Hills Grassroots festival
• Oct 15 — Virginia Beach, VA – The Jewish Mother
• Oct 16 — Arlington, VA – IOTA Club
• Oct 17 — Asheville, NC – Garage at Biltmore
• Oct 18 — Charlotte, NC – Neighborhood Theatre
• Oct 20 — Atlanta, GA – Smith’s Olde Bar
• Oct 21 — Athens, GA – The Melting Point
• Oct 24 — Live Oak, FL – Spirit of the Suwanee Music park
• Oct 25 — Live Oak, FL – Spirit of the Suwanee Music park
• Oct 26 — Live Oak, FL – Spirit of the Suwanee Music park
• Oct 29 — Somerville, MA – Johnny D’s
• Oct 30 — Norfolk, CT – Infinity Hall