At the beginning of the century in the USA, a dweller of the Appalachian mountains was called "Hillybilly" (sic) - and by that people meant, not so flattering, as much as "yokel". By the way, that name dates from the twenties, when record-companies started advertising white American folk-music with the label "Hillybilly" (sic twice), to disassociate themselves like that from supposedly more commercial country & western.

In any case there are still young bands at the end of the 20th century who make such a thing as "Hillybilly" (sic thrice) - "Sixteen Horsepower", that's who, a quartet from Denver, well to me it sounds like rocking country or to be concise: file this album under Yeehaw! The droll, cranky, gnarly sound on Low Estate is primarily a result of the instrumentation: besides the obligatory guitar-bass-drums line-up, cello and fiddle, keyboards and organ, banjo, bandoneon and a lyre (also called hurdy-gurdy) are employed too - among them even a few antiques, partly from the previous century.

But even when quadruple time is stylistically rooted in the traditions of country, blues and folk - its branches stretch out very solidly into rock territory, usually really whole-hearted and strong. In all, the songs on this CD are hallmarked by grim melancholia and dark pathos, which is evident both in the lyrics as well as in the melodies and harmonies.

That may initially be surprising, country-music is noted for its light-footedness, but in saying that we have only perceived one side, the clichéd side of the coin, and "Sixteen Horsepower" have about as much in common with convivial, uproarious folklore, as the historic western-cultfigures Jesse James and Billy the Kid have with amiable eccentrics. It's a fact that there's no insignificant nostalgia-society at work here, but a band, whose music - in spite of all the stylistic patina - is, in a very personal and refreshing way, breaking new ground... while making everything else look old-fangled! I wouldn't want to stake my life on it though, that everyone who loves country, will also like Sixteen Horsepower, even when it applies to me...