The desert, endless expanses. These are the adventures of the 16 Horsepower threesome, on the road to where, already before primitive times, myths and melodies combined. David Eugene Edwards sought for the sun on his light solo debut "Woven Hand", now he's strolling in seemingly impenetrable darkness. Expelled from his native soil he goes away. "It is no mystery / I know my way from here."

Edwards tracks traditions, origins, "Folklore" in the full sense of the word. Namely in the peoples' recollection are the jigsaw pieces hidden, with which Sixteen Horsepower strive after deliverance from hardship. Thus they find grim lamentations and timorous incantations, which string together like jailbirds in the dock. Cast-down heads have to endure derision and affliction, and even death doesn't bring safety. "Sinnerman / The grave will not hold you / All on that day."

Amidst all these chasms, the threatening calm of "Folklore" almost works like a pilgrimage. Only parsimonious sounds and hoarse exclamations accompany the pilgrim. Hank Williams' "Alone and forsaken" becomes their own essence. Edwards' spiritual verses melt together with dusty melodies. American, Indian (sic), Slavic and Hungarian traditionals breathe the same air penetrated by a sense of fear, as their own material, which even sounds as if it is centuries old.

Sixteen Horsepower let's it sparkle in the dark only seldom. Yet the spirited bluegrass of "Single girl" is soon followed by the lament of "Beyond the pale". Piano, banjo, bandoneon and violin hold their tongue. The dark rock of the predecessor "Secret south" has vanished. More stillness than noise. Brittle and restless the "Folklore"-road continues, and still you journey with the loftiness of the confessor. After all that sorrow, after all that trouble, in the long run there's salvation. "Balance yourself / In your baby's arms." Not only the soul, the music too, goes through its catharsis.

8 (out of 10)