In 1939, John Lomax, the curator of American folk songs, and his wife undertook a 6500-mile-long journey through the United States, on which they made nearly 700 recordings of approximately 300 interpreters of original folk songs, which to this day is considered to be the most extensive collection of this kind . What was interesting about this trip is that many of these pieces - from very different fields, from Spanish songs to blues to the first country songs - where saved from oblivion this way. Lomax' son, Alan, carried on this work, until he retired in 1996 . Among others Alan Lomax, as a BBC-producer, was responsible for the folk revival in England, which, via skiffle, triggered off the British beat boom. Just now the subject of folklore songs is once again picked up in the USA: For instance, there is the book "The Songcatcher" by Sharyn McCrumb, which is - besides the novel's plot - about the preservation of the legacy of songs handed down orally. A movie with the same title likewise deals with this matter. Its soundtrack - containing studio versions of the folk songs performed in the movie by the actors - became as big a success there as the prior "Brother Where Art Thou". There even is a second episode, on which essentially older recordings from the 70's can be found. What does that have to do with 16 Horsepower Well, the new 16 HP record is entitled "Folklore" and consists for more than one half of traditionals.

What is the story behind this beginning? Have 16HP become modern "Songcatchers" with this? As David Eugene Edwards had just become indispensable because of familiar reasons, and as he didn't want to leave the questions unanswered, he asked Jean-Yves Tola, the charismatic 16HP drummer, to substitute. "We're quite acquainted with the Songcatcher stuff", Jean-Yves acknowledges, "and the new album does absolutely have such a feel. First of all, for us it was about keeping the record pure, simple and sober - without unnecessary background noises." Well, but that certainly wasn't all. Compared to the other 16HP albums this CD almost sounds like it's from the sticks. There even is a song on it, "Single Girl" from the Carter Family, which can also be found on the "Songcatcher" soundtrack (although the song's unaccustomed cheerfulness represents a real challenge for 16HP). "We have said from the start, that what we do is folk music in the widest sense", Jean-Yves believes, "this album in its way probably is a radically more evident documentation of that position."

How about your own songwriting now? Does 16HP now try to write folk songs too? And what sets a folk song apart from 'other songs'? "We wrote our own songs together", Jean-Yves explains, "David, I and Pascal [Humbert, the guitarist]. A folk song is - putting it simple - more of a song from the people for the people. For instance a song written by a father for his child - or for the family or a village feast. Above all, a song without a price tag in dollars!" And in what way are your own compositions different from the traditionals? "That is for posterity to decide!" says Jean-Yves. When you do start with a project like this, it certainly must be hard to choose songs from the immeasurable number of available songs, or? And some of the songs, like for instance the waltz-like "Robe A Parasol", even move away from the usual, rather dark 16HP style, almost into the field of merry dance music. "At first we all picked a few songs ourselves. We then heaped them together and looked which would suit the record best", Jean-Yves recalls, "naturally we listened to a lot of old stuff. We then selected those we liked best - even when they represented a bigger challenge for us then other songs. Sometimes it was quite easy though. For instance, we're all big Hank Williams fans. It was easy to agree on "Alone & Forsaken." Even though that isn't a real folk song. You have to attest that this cover version does indeed sound as if it was written specially for 16HP.

Asked how they would like to be seen as songwriters, Jean-Yves replies: "Hopefully as 'honest'. We do, after all, address ourselves in our songs to everyone who listens." What was really the reason for the development on this new album, a development that was already discernible on and started with David Eugene Edwards "solo project" Woven Hands (sic). Back to your roots? "It simply is an evolutionary process", Jean-Yves elucidates, "it is about the simple need - and the curiosity - to explore different musical worlds. We have always felt drawn to music that isn't really complicated and complex. A few single notes, just the right notes, on a few instruments can in principle, move you as much as an entire orchestra." Anyhow, with "Folklore" 16HP present their most logical album of their career so far - even when this level of consistency and its consequences came as a surprise. This matter also has an interesting side effect: With this album the boring comparisons with the Gun Club should finally be struck dumb. The album makes us curious whether 16HP will change down a few gears on their upcoming tour...