On this their debut EP 16 Horsepower arrived with an already well defined and unique sound. If you're unfamiliar with 16 Horsepowers music it can best be described as christian backwoods gothic-country or something similar...
They use traditional folk instruments like Banjos, acoustic slide guitars, stand up basses and the bandoneon(a wheezing mexican accordion). These instruments are often played in droning minor keys. The lyrics are different from most christian bands as well because they often focus on darker issues: doubt, regret, sin.

At this time the band had three members: band leader David Eugene Edwards(guitar, banjo, bandoneon, vocals), Bassist Keven Soll(stand up and flat top bass) and french drummer Jean-Yves Tola. Soll would later leave the band after their first full lenght album Sackcloth & Ashes but the other two remains to this day.

The six songs on this EP are quite varied and musically it is actually slightly less dark sounding than their later recordings. Two tracks, Haw and coal black horses, also appear on later albums.
haw is the opening number on this EP and is one of 16 Horsepowers harder rocking songs starting out with slide guitar strumming before exploding with powerfull drumming and bass playing. Edwards delivers a typically yelping and edgy vocal as he sings about a womans fall from grace, or at least that's my take on the lyric most of his lyrics are quite hard to figure out full of biblical references and word plays. This is a great song and can also be found on their great debut album. The second song South Pennsylvania Waltz is also a great song in wich over a mournful slide guitar Edwards delivers this first verse:
I ain't afraid of your laughin'
nor afraid of your fist
come on with it brother
your sweet betrayal kiss


I ain't a scared of you no more
nor the scars upon your wrists
these bullets you've been shootin' at me
yeah, they all fall short an' miss

This is a typical 16 horsepower lyric and while the music is often dark as in this song they always manage to be uplifting rather than deppressing, perhaps because of the strong christian faith and hope of salvation wich lie at the core of David Eugene Edward's song writing.
The Next two songs Shametown and Straight Mouth Stomp have a more upbeat song The first having a hillbilly banjo melody and the secon a being a gorgoeus accordion-waltz. The fifth song Coal Black Horses was later included on their second full lenght album Low Estate. This is powerful song about Edwards longing for the return of christ and is one of my favorite 16 Horsepower. The EP ends with another hillbilly number the drunken-sounding I Gotta Gal complet with cries of YEEA-HAW and drunken laughter.
16 Horsepower seems to appeal to as many non-christians as christians and this testifies to the power of Edwards music and lyrics they appeal to me because of the strenght in his belief and the beautiful and longing fealing of his music even though I don't share his conviction.
All 16 Horsepower's albums so far have been great but this one might be a good introduction to them as it's short has mostly great songs and can be found cheap. If you want to hear their really dark and gothic side the Low Estate would be a better choice and if you want something a bit closer to rock music i would reccomend their latest effort Secret South instead.




Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: Hanging With Friends