L.A. stalwarts Isis are set to release their most cohesive and challenging work yet with Wavering Radiant, due out May 5th on Ipecac Recordings.

Having been on the forefront of the progressive metal scene for over a decade now, the five-piece have managed to pump out landmark records like a well-oiled machine, each one more unique and daring then the last. Routinely changing the genre’s landscape, the group produced destructive, incendiary riffs on their debut, explored the sprawling, vast unknown via 2004’s Oceanic and discordant, rhythmic textures on The Absence of Truth. Enter: Wavering Radiant. Their first full length in over two years, it marks yet another push towards the unexplored; solidifying a career in adaptation and transformation. Acting as the culmination of twelve years spent unleashing backbreaking riff-age and sonic explorations of light & dark, Radiant sees the colossal five-some moving beyond the visible spectrum of rock and the realm of the uninspired. Blissfully melodic, frighteningly dense; the album is an epic conflict between worlds of beauty and the darkest of demons.

Epic in nature, grandiose in scale, on May 5th Isis will unleash both their most demanding and accessible album yet. A monster of epic proportions, it’s seven tracks clock in at a total of 54 minutes. The shortest number (also the album’s namesake) stays under two minutes, while it’s longest reaches 11 minutes. Less tracks then they are portions, they are better described as subsections to one massive piece. After just one listen, it’s clear that Radiant is the sum of years of experimentation, varying influences and the organic infusion of their multiple personalities (band members are featured in a slew of successful side-projects).

Also featuring a guest appearance from Adam Jones of Tool fame on two tracks, their latest Ipecac release finds the group displaying an unparalleled sense of maturity and a mastery of their instruments, officially making them grizzled vets of a genre fated to be at their mercy for years to come.

Tracklist for Isis Wavering Radiant [May 5th, Ipecac Recordings]:

1. Hall Of The Dead
2. Ghost Key
3. Hand Of The Host
4. Wavering Radiant
5.  Stone To Wake A Serpent
6.

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7. Threshold Of Transformation

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Stic.man and M-1, the revolutionary duo that comprise dead prez, combine forces with DJ Green Lantern for Pulse of The People, a new LP and third installment of their critically acclaimed independent series, Turn off the Radio Vol. 3. Due in stores June 23, 2009, Pulse of The People will be released through Green Lantern’s new label, Invasion Music Group/Boss up Inc.  Pulse of The People features appearances from Styles P, Bun B, K’Naan, Chuck D, and Invasion Music Group’s own Johnny Polygon.

Highly acclaimed DJ and producer, The Evil Genius DJ Green Lantern, reached out to dead prez for contributions to his mixtapes in the past.  Although respect was always mutual between the camps, the timing was not yet ripe for a full album collaboration. After the success of the Rock the Bells Tour, featuring both Green and dead prez, they decided it was time to make it happen. The three hit the studio in February to create Pulse of The People, “an album with all original songs written by dead prez and produced entirely by DJ Green Lantern”, explains Stic.man. “Pulse of The People is presented in a format that reps the streets and what’s happening in the hearts and minds of the people that don’t get represented in the mainstream.” With dead prez’s respect for DJ Green Lantern’s work as a producer/tastemaker and his new label, Invasion Music Group, distributed by The Orchard, on board, Pulse of The People came to life just in time to bang out for the summer and beyond.

In addition to going “Green” with this album musically, the politically active dead prez chose sustainable packaging for the effort. This revolutionary move not only breaks ground in hip-hop, but shows that they stand by what they speak.

About dead prez:
dead prez has been crafting revolutionary gangsta hip-hop since the late 1990s.  Having previously released two major label albums, two volumes of their independent Turn off the Radio series and two solo albums, the dead prez way-of-life brand is an international symbol of substance within the genre, connecting hardcore hip hop heads with the growing movement for liberation, social justice and grassroots empowerment in the scene.

About DJ Green Lantern:
Named by MTV as 2008’s Mixtape and Radio DJ of the year, this succinct summation hardly does justice to the magnitude of DJ Green Lantern’s accomplishments last year. He put together Nas’ Nigger Mixtape, a rare official mixtape from the Queensbridge king, that served as a middle finger to all those who opposed his controversial Untitled album. Having worked on the Barack Obama: Yes We Can mixtape as well as Royce Da 5’9’s Bar Exam 2 and Immortal Technique’s 3rd World cemented the fact that DJ Green Lantern doesn’t chase the biggest checks but works with artists he respects.

This is one record for the books, folks. Already a critic’s darling in blues and americana circles (garnering nods from the likes of No Depression and Blues Revue), Leap of Faith finds Seth Walker continuing to carve out his place in the world of modern blues, with his soul-flavored sing-along-worthy gems. His first LP after 2007’s Seth Walker and second for Hyena Records (which dropped Tuesday, March 3rd) finds the blues maestro taking things to another level with a slew of feel good romps. The album’s twelve tracks capture the Texan’s suave vocal stylings and seemingly natural penchant for authentic-but-modern rhythm and blues. Often compared to artists such as James Hunter, Robert Cray and Susan Tedeschi, Walker’s Leap of Faith offers up original honky-tonk jams like

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, slow-burning blues in the form of

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and a number of surprises, such as his passionate take on the classic Nick Lowe track “Lately I’ve Let Things Slide.”

Seth’s charm has even won over the hearts of legendary artists such as Bonnie Raitt, Taj Mahal and Delbert McClinton. McClinton himself, a guest vocalist on Leap Of Faith track “Something Fast,” also sang Seth’s praises, saying “The first time I heard Seth Walker at a small club in Nashville I was impressed like I haven’t been impressed in 30 years, with performance, presence, and great songs.”  Walker is proof that hard work pays off - the man has been at it for over a decade, perfecting his rousing brand of blues in small bars and clubs across the country. Not one to rest with his success, Seth is out on the road again this year.  He’ll be a featured performer at South By Southwest in his hometown of Austin, TX, and will work his way through Louisiana, Tennessee, California and more. Often compared to blues legends, it’s been made clear with this release that the celebrated Walker has a voice all his own; one that he won’t stop gracing us with anytime soon. Instead of taking our word for it, have a listen yourself to “Can’t Come With You” and “Rewind” off Leap of Faith Below!

MP3 - Seth Walker -

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MP3 - Seth Walker -

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Say Hi
Oohs & Aahs / Barsuk Records / BUY

Eric Elbogen, better known as Say Hi, has been recording and performing his special flavor of lo-fi indie pop for the better part of six years now. The Seattle-based artist plays almost every instrument on his records, keeping alive a spirit of indie rock do-it-yourself-ism, even down to his laptop recording method and (until now) DIY record label. While he sometimes brings friends along to back his live show, he often plays solo with the help of synth and drum machines - his so-called “robots.” Say Hi’s brand new and sixth color-coded Lp Oohs & Aahs is being released this week on the mighty Barsuk records. Highlighted by odes to past lovers in “Elouise,” “Maurine” and “Audrey,” it finds Elbogen’s maturity and versatility as a songwriter at an all time high. On “November Was White December Was Grey,” he longs for the long, cold days to melt away; “When the winter’s gone/I’ll feel better when the winter’s gone.” Instantly lovable in its charm, “

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” hooks you in with quirky horns, swinging guitar licks and a pulsating drum cavalcade.

As a multi-instrumentalist, Elbogen’s main weapon for saying hi to his listeners comes via an assault of keyboards riffs, at times goofy and at times dramatic, and his range as a guitarist - from soft, warm acoustics to loud and expansive ambiance. Whether you’re a long-time listener of the project (previously called Say Hi To Your Mom), a frequent purveyor of all things Barsuk, or are just finding yourself reeled in by the infectious first single, these ten songs live up to their album’s title, providing a little something for everyone.

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With SXSW just over 2 weeks away, we’re going to help you plan your venue-hopping schedule with a Daily-Rind-Daily South-By-Spotlight (whew, that’s a mouthful!) every weekday until the big day.

First up we’ve got showcases from Chin Chin and Cage, on the Brooklyn indie label Definitive Jux - owned by none other than the inimitable Company Flow founder and solo artist extraordinaire El-P.

Chin Chin are a fun(k) electro band that also play as El-P’s backing band when they’re not doing their own thing; their own thing being a groovy breed of hip-shaking dance music that owes as much to funk and r&b as it does to disco.  Their second LP The Flashing, The Fancing lands next week in all stores, and to lead up to its release the band has been recording a hilarious series of viral videos, which will soon be combined into the final video for track “

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.”  Check out episodes 1, 2 and 3 on Def Jux’s YouTube channel.

The boys are playing 2 shows down in Austin on Friday, March 20th.  Full details and Cage info after the jump.

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