The Duhks are idealistic eclectics

The Duhks (pronounced "ducks") don't land in one place too long. An acclaimed acoustic quintet from Winnipeg, Canada, they defy easy categorization by slipping unpredictably from spirituals to pop to world music to traditional folk. They seem to adhere only to one principle: Keep things fiercely focused and steeped in passion.

With "Fast Paced World," the Duhks' fourth album, the band continues to rapidly evolve. Sarah Dugas is the new vocalist, and like forerunner Jessee Havey, she's a soulful powerhouse, as she proves with her ferocious testifying on a cover of the traditional Deep South folk song, "Mighty Storm." Her brother, drummer Christian Dugas, can handle a variety of complex beats, including the polyrhythmic underpinning of "Magalenha," a Tropicalia song by Brazilian master Carlinhos Brown.

At their heart, the Duhks are idealistic eclectics. But unlike some freedom-loving young prodigies, they keep their arrangements crisp, and producer Jay Joyce helps them concentrate on sharp ensemble playing and concise solos rather than lengthy jams. Songs like the pop-oriented "You Don't See It" and the rampaging acoustic stomp of "95 South" carry a punch few jam bands ever muster.

CHECK THIS OUT: "Fast Paced World," the title cut, is a social manifesto decrying the modern customs of materialism and greed and asking why we've moved away from the principles of love, culture, family and nature -- all sung with turbulent intensity by Dugan over a clanging, Tom Waits-style arrangement.