WhatzUp

Folklore
Sixteen Horsepower
by Chad Beck

After the exhaustive tour in promotion of 2000’s Secret South album, Sixteen Horsepower decided it was time for a break. It’s no shock that playing such emotionally and spiritually charged music could wear one down, and Sixteen Horsepower had four releases and several international tours under their belt, all in less than five years. Those facts are more impressive considering how deep Sixteen Horsepower reach inside themselves for each performance. David Eugene Edwards sings like a man opening his soul for the world to see, unleashing all the beauty and darkness that lies within. Most people find it tough just to be honest with one another, but Edwards is brave enough to let his struggles and victories be captured in the studio, for all to hear. Sixteen Horsepower’s brand new Folklore sounds like the band has fully recharged their emotional batteries, adding another powerful batch of songs to their impressive catalog.

Limiting themselves to acoustic instruments, Folklore never “rocks” quite as hard as the band’s earlier work. Instead, the disc is full of gentle textures and a folkish mentality that works perfectly for these backwoods troubadours. Mixing goth-bluegrass with fire and brimstone, Folklore consists primarily of traditional songs and covers. Highlights include a rambunctious take on “Single Girl,” originally written by the Carter Family. The band sounds like they are enjoying themselves as they set fire to this country classic, which they also do when they wrench out every bit of passion available from Hank Williams’ “Alone and Forsaken.” Unlike the ill-chosen covers found on Hoarse, 2001’s live album (Edwards performing Gun Club and Joy Division was like “shooting fish in a bucket”), the material on Folklore is both appropriate and inspiring.

Rounding out Folklore are four original songs, each impressive in gravity and depth. The band has a knack for setting mood, and their original material really makes the hair on the back of your neck stand. Whether Edwards is whispering about getting “Beyond the Pale” or howling about “Blessed Persistence,” you feel that he’s onto something. Backed only by strings, sparse percussion and the occasional banjo, Edwards sings like his head is in Heaven and his feet are in Hell. Folklore is adventurous in its simplicity and will simultaneously give the listener plenty to think about.