South African rock trio Civil Twilight is set to release their highly anticipated sophomore album holy weather on March 27^th through Wind Up Records.  holy weather creates a perfect blend of atmospheric sound and hazy storytelling, which is crafted by brothers Steven (singer/bass/piano) and Andrew McKellar (guitar) and Richard Wouters (drums).  Starting today the band’s colossal single, “Fire Escape” is available at all digital retailers and as a CD single with select indie retailers.  Fans that pre-order the album digitally through iTunes will instantly receive the single, as well as a pre-order only track and three, exclusive bonus tracks when the album drops – so don’t miss out!  holy weather can also be pre-ordered as physical copies via the band’s merch store, where Limited Edition Clear Vinyl is sold in bundles, and through Amazon and Newbury Comics.  Read more...

Feist debuts her new video for the single “The Bad In Each Other” off her critically-acclaimed album, Metals (Cherrytree/Interscope). Directed by Martin De Thurah (James Blake, Glasvegas), the video captures glimpses of something human. We get a peek inside something real between people – could be loss, longing or love – things which are about being a human being.  Read more...

The Denver, Colorado based band, The Lumineers, are proud to announce the release of their self-titled debut album, out on April 3rd via Dualtone. The band’s style of emotive, powerful folk-rock has garnered comparisons to Edward Sharpe and Mumford and Sons, and is in line with Dualtone’s history of supporting talented folk acts. The album was produced and mixed by Ryan Hadlock (Foo Fighters, Ra Ra Riot, Metric) at Bear Creek Studios, with additional mixing by Kevin Augunas (The Black Keys, Cold War Kids, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros) at Fairfax Recordings, and follows the band’s eponymous self-recorded EP that was released earlier in 2011.  Read more...

Third Man Records has partnered with Brightspark Travel to create “School Choirs & Bands at Third Man: A Vinyl Recording Experience,” a one of a kind program offering students behind-the-scenes access to Jack White’s Third Man Records in Nashville, TN, as well as the chance to record their own 7” 45rpm vinyl records.  Read more...

Welcome to another edition of Project Rhythm Seed’s Free Music Friday. Here we are four weeks into 2012 and things are heating up. Today we have two new tracks for you. The first is from an artist named Damien Jurado. His label, Secretly Canadian, sent us this great new track called “Museum Of Flight” from his upcoming album Maraqopa.  Our second track is from Madi Diaz, who we have highlighted before on Project Rhythm Seed. She has a new album out called Plastic Moon. The track we have for you today is called “Gimme A Kiss”. We hope you download and enjoy both of these great new artists. If you have any suggestions of artists or tracks that you would like us to cover in the future, let us know. We’ll see you next week for more music news, reviews and interviews.  Read more...

Captivating audiences along the west coast, the Silver Lake, CA quartet The New Limb pull from a century’s worth of influences to make music that appeals to a wide range of listeners. Named “Best Live Band” by The OC Weekly, KROQ raves “The New Limb’s lush, organically evocative indie-pop channels yearning as it feels in any moment you’ve had true desire. In short, The New Limb is the first crush you will never forget and see in everyone around you,” adding the band’s “gorgeously intense” music “sweeps you in with ecstatic Swede-couture electronica reminiscent of The Knife and moody indie twang like The Shins. Both the lyrics and Joey Chavez‘ voice call to mind the boyish, literate theatrics of Rufus Wainwright.”  Read more...

L’Arc-en-Ciel, one of Japan’s most celebrated rock bands, will make their long overdue U.S. return on March 25th with a performance at New York’s legendary Madison Square Garden. Originally scheduled for March 23rd at The Theater at Madison Square Garden, the show has been moved to the world famous arena due to the overwhelming demand of fans. This will mark the first time a Japanese band headlines MSG. Tickets will go on sale this Saturday, January 28th. Visit  for details.  Read more...

Illustrious and riveting, Rachael Sage is a born performer. With mesmerizing vocals, a natural talent for songwriting and flair in droves, it’s no surprise that the gorgeous songstress has garnered attention internationally. Haunted By You, set to hit via Rachael’s own MPress Records on May 8th, is a song cycle about passion and features guest vocalists Dar Williams, Katie Costello and actor/director Joshua Leonard (“Blair Witch Project”, “Humpday“). The NYC-based artist and producer explains, “I fell recklessly in and out of love multiple times while writing this record.  I broke a couple hearts…and I also had my heart broken pretty badly.” Haunted By You is a record that is immediately welcoming, pulling you in from the very first melodies and swirling effortlessly and seductively through your ears and into your heart on the very first listen.  Read more...

Icelandic duo Human Woman have teamed up with hfn music (Trentemøller, Kasper Bjørke) to release the single ‘Delusional‘ in advance of their forthcoming LP due out later this year. Comprised of Gisli Galdur (aka Galdur) of Icelandic band Trabant and producer Jón Atli Helgason (aka Sexy Lazer), Human Woman have forged a fantastic fusion of modern electronic pop with the debut single. Taking influences across the board, the duo have cooked up a sensual, catchy indie-dance track that is pleasingly reminiscent of the 80s. Directed by Einar Snorri and Helgason, the psychedelic video for ‘Delusional’ merges footage of a master hula-hoopist with prismatic images that mirror the shapes she creates.  Read more...

Hi everybody and welcome to the third edition of Project Rhythm Seed’s Free Music Friday for 2012. Sadly, we received news of Etta James’ passing this morning in Riverside, California. She died of complications from leukemia at age 73. The singer had one of the best and most versatile voices in the business. Her songs, often drenched in strings, were big winners for Chess Records. Some, like her signature hit “At Last” went on to be absolute staples. Etta was inducted into both the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame and the Blues Hall Of Fame. Over the course of her career she won four Grammy awards, one of which was for best jazz vocal performance, which she won in 1995 for the album Mystery Lady: Songs of Billie Holiday. Etta died with her husband and sons at her bedside. This edition of Free Music Friday is dedicated to her. Rest in peace Etta!  Read more...

By J. Brown

Brooklyn-based artist Gabriel & The Hounds has joined the blossoming record label Communion, which is releasing this artist’s debut record in the UK at the end of February (released by Ernest Jennings Record Co. in US). Entitled Kiss Full of Teeth, musician and songwriter Gabriel Levine is the man behind the moniker “Gabriel & The Hounds,” and while Levine wrote all the songs on the album, it isn’t quite a solo effort, as he is joined by a variety of artists in an effort that is a perfect mix of solitary and communal. Among those who came together to record this album include performers who are in or have recorded with The National, Beirut, St Vincent, Sufjan Stevens, tUnE-yArDs, Bjork, and Jonsi (proving it pays to have friends in high places).  Read more...

Republished from Google – Two bills before Congress, known as the Protect IP Act (PIPA) in the Senate and the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in the House, would censor the Web and impose harmful regulations on American business. Millions of Internet users and entrepreneurs already oppose SOPA and PIPA.

The Senate will begin voting on January 24th. Please let them know how you feel.  Read more...

UK electronic artist Chad Valley aka Hugo Manuel has debuted a brand new video for “Reach Lines,” taken from his Equatorial Ultravox EP, available now on experimental pop label Cascine. Manuel, who also fronts UK calypso-pop quartet Jonquil, embarked on a North American tour this past fall with Active Child and Com Truise and played a number of celebrated sets at NYC’s CMJ  as both Chad Valley and as part of Jonquil. Both acts look forward to sharing new material this year, with Jonquil on the helm of releasing their new LP, Point of Go due out on February 21 with Dovecote Records.  Read more...

Hi there. If you’re reading this, then that means you made it through the second week of 2012. Congratulations! It was a busy week here at Project Rhythm Seed as we continue to gear up for another year of international music coverage. We have lots of new features, reviews and interviews that will be coming your way this year. Many of the bands that we present to you are either wrapping up recording, or preparing release of their new records. And others have already released and are getting ready to take off for a short warmup tour before this year’s SXSW in March.  Read more...

Brooklyn, NY’s Tanlines will release their debut album, Mixed Emotions, on March 20^th, 2012.  The album was mixed by legendary mixer and engineer Jimmy Douglass (Timbaland, Aaliyah, Justin Timberlake, Television, Roxy Music.  Read more...

New York’s Yellow Ostrich will release their new album, Strange Land, on March 6, 2012. Strange Land is the follow-up to the acclaimed The Mistress, and is self-produced with engineer Beau Sorenson (Death Cab for Cutie, Sparklehorse). The Mistress was also self-produced, and was made by singer/guitarist Alex Schaaf on his own, playing all the instruments. With multi-instrumentalist Jon Natchez and drummer Michael Tapper in the fold, Strange Land presents Yellow Ostrich fully formed, no longer a bedroom project, but rather now a full-fledged power trio.  Read more...

Los Angeles based quintet Milo Greene, who recently signed to Chop Shop/Atlantic Records, will launch a West Coast headlining run at The Roost in Bellingham WA on February 7. The band will be joined on the road by special guest Family of the Year. Following these dates, Milo Greene will begin a three-week Los Angeles residency – with free admission – at The Satellite (formerly Spaceland). See below for upcoming dates.  Read more...

Minneapolis based band The Melismatics are set to release their latest album MANIA! tomorrow, January 10^th, through Chicago’s very own Pravda Records. They’ll begin a national tour on January 12th at the Zoo Bar in Lincoln, Nebraska before heading for the West coast. MANIA! was produced by Jon Auer of The Posies and Big Star, along with Ed Ackerson (Motion City Soundtrack, Golden Smog, The Replacements) and was mixed by John Fields (Jimmy Eat World, Rooney, Har Mar Superstar). The LP features collaborations with Dan Wilson (Adele, Semisonic) and Jon Auer who lends vocals to several tracks.  Read more...

Hi everybody and welcome to the first edition of Project Rhythm Seed’s Free Music Friday for 2012. We’re expecting a bumper year for new music. Lots of major and indie acts are getting ready to release new albums, and many more are still in the studio, working hard to create this year’s finest. Today’s FMF tracks were brought to us by two acts who are already ahead of the game. They both have their projects finished, polished and prepared for release. And they’ve been kind enough to offer us a taste of what is to come. We hope you enjoy this new music from Orcas and Leonard Friend. And remember to support your favorite musicians by buying their latest releases and getting out to see them live when they pass through a venue near you.  Read more...

Nika Roza Danilova, better known as Zola Jesus, admittedly, has never been a huge fan of remixes in general. Although she makes dance-y beats and music, the dozens of remix requests that come in each week, both asking her to lend her own stems or to produce for other bands, have been declined. Both artist and label tend to feel that most remixes frequently fail to improve on the original. Since her record company, Sacred Bones, is not yet a full fledged dance 12-inch label, no one in that camp has felt that remixes are imperative for their roster artists who do not wish to engage in them. However once in a while an opportunity comes along that simply can not be passed up.  Read more...