16 Horsepower

Item: Low Estate
Author: James Stewart

Low Estate

(1997)

Reviewed by James Stewart

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Label A&M RecordsThe Phantom Tollbooth1997

alternative country americana gothic rock

All my love
Well it is madness
Freely given to you folks with gladness
I will not live and die -- no not by the sword
I am weak without the joy of the Lord
(from "For Heaven's Sake")

Very few bands have been raved about by the staff of the Tollbooth like this one. I've been hearing their name for the past year, and the time has now come to devote some serious coverage to them.

"Gothic country" seems to be the tag that has been put on Sixteen Horsepower, and it is quite appropriate. Alternative, but much darker musically than Son Volt or any of their peers. The vocals, instrumentation, and playing show strong country influences, while there is a dark current in both the music and the lyrics. I was a little skeptical about how this would work over a whole album, but it holds together marvelously, drawing the listener further in as the album progresses.

The vocals were the aspect of the album which first struck me. The vocalist, David Eugene Edwards, has a strong drawl to his voice, which certainly adds to the country music parallels, but his is a very diverse voice, making use of a number of styles and even reminding me of the song "Great Balls of Fire" on "My Narrow Mind." Many vocalists can convey emotions well, but this one is exceptional in this respect. I found this to be especially true on track six, "Denver Grab," a slower piece backed by the sound of a bow being scraped across the violin. The vocals are sung in harmony - a deep bass and slightly whiney (but very effective) higher vocal.

Granted, these vocals may not be to everyone's taste - they're a bit unusual and pained for sure, and he can't compete with some classically trained vocalists technically...but technical skill isn't the be-all and end-all of great vocals.

Between them the band members play fiddle, guitar, cello, organ, banjo, concertina, hurdy gurdy, drums, percussion, piano, bass, and bass fiddle. The instruments have a very raw feel to them. I was very interested to hear the bass fiddle, an instrument I hadn't come across before, and it certainly has a powerful sound - very noticeable on "Golden Rope."

The standout track for me has to be "For Heaven's Sake," opening with shimmering electric guitars, joined by sombre vocals and a tambourine. It all fits together to build a moody masterpiece, with the curious refrain 'When will I suffer for heaven's sake?' The rest of the lyrics explore a theme familiar throughout the album--one man's trials and frailty, and his salvation in Christ. While the band does not operate within the Christian marketplace, and there are no cosy salvation messages in the lyrics, it is more than obvious that they are Christians from a reading of the lyrics. Christians perhaps more connected with the lament than many, but Christians nonetheless.

The closest the album comes to an upbeat track is, appropriately enough, at the end. The unusually-titled "Hang My Teeth on Your Door" has something of a hoe-down feel, but still retains the heavy bass end that makes that distinctive Sixteen Horsepower sound.

The world of Sixteen Horsepower is a difficult, dark place. But then, they aren't the only ones to experience such a world, and their music is sure to resonate with many others. Justifiably so, as this is an excellent album, full of inventive instrumentation and moody masterpieces.

5 tocks