REVIEW: 16 Horsepower, Low Estate (A&M)
- Scott Byron
From the opening notes of Low Estate, it's clear that 16 Horsepower are something special. There's a primal urgency to the band's music, a propulsive energy that drives the music forward, but there's also a rock-solid foundation.
The first thing you notice is David Eugene Edwards' voice, an odd, compelling squawk that resonates deeply, but is used in a freewheeling, sometimes caterwauling way. There are echoes of Tom Waits, Hank Williams and Nick Cave here, but it's no slavish imitation. Edwards is always the center of attention, but there's lots more to recommend 16 Horsepower. The instrumentation is fascinating, a sorta proto-retro-psycho-honky-tonk that's performed mostly on vintage instruments, including bandoneon (an old accordion-like instrument that creates an eerie ambiance for many of the tracks), banjo, cello and fiddle, along with the more usual (today) bass, guitar and drums. The drumming, by Jan-Yves Tola, is the brilliant foundation that drives the music forward. His jerky timing is a wonder, centering on odd little snare patterns that accent the rhythms perfectly.
Once the music draws you in and has its impact, it's the words that hold your interest, and reveal themselves slowly with repeated listening. Edwards' lyrics reflect great joy and despair, faith and passion, truth and soul. They're delivered with a preacher's fire that draws the listener into his world; there's a palpable intensity to his imagery, drawn from personal pain and spirituality.
This quintessential American Music has so far caught more ears in Europe (where they get lots of media attention and play the festival circuit) than in their homeland (though two band members are French, the band is Denver-based and the music definitely reflects Southern-American roots). One can only hope that Low Estate, the group's second album, raises their profile at home. I've experienced 16 Horsepower live, and they're well worth seeing when they come your way later this year. As this music doesn't fit easily into any of the radio/media categories that usually expose new music today, it may be hard for them to find their niche. If you're the least bit intrigued, I encourage you to take a leap of faith and seek them out.
