****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
David Eugene Edwards, the long-time front man for those remarkable gothabilly rockers Sixteen Horsepower, has taken his loyal fans on a thoughtful side trip in "Woven Hand." The curious but colorful album art may give one a hint that this project is of a slightly different breed than previous efforts.This work features a keyboard-oriented sound that lends the songs a lighter touch to complement the underlying drone. The lyrics are at times David's most spiritual and even sentimental, but what a distressing sentimentality. Yes there is a romantic element here, but this is not a picnic free of dark and threatening skies.David, as always, has taken this chance to do some soul searching, but here it seems focused and thematic. "Blue Pail Fever" is a travelogue of sorts, taking us with him to the uttermost parts of his own journey as an artist, contemplating the sacrifice and confidence of his savior. The inspiration is clear, even in the darkness of his despair."Arrowhead" is an immediate favorite, asking questions and telling the story of a young pilgrim's progress, reminding us how mistakes often have consequences. Similarly, "Glass Eye" laments human frailty and hubris in the presence of grace. Even more compelling is "Wooden Brother" with its bright but haunting melody, driving this brooding memoir to an intensity that is hard to deny."Story and Pictures" sounds like the song David Edwards has been working on his whole career long. Boys growing up too soon, repentance coming far too slow, grace burning it all away. "The Good Hand" is similar in its tale of persistent mercy and loving-kindness in the face of death, decay and corruption.The bookends of "My Russia" and "Your Russia" recount personal conviction and promise ultimate sanctification with an intensity and plain sincerity only David Edwards might be capable of producing. The slip and the grip of grace.The project itself is woven together by the recurrent sounds and sonic themes, one of which might be described as locusts on a warm summer's night that take on different moods and intensities as the album progresses. Some songs simply blend together (a technique that drives DJs crazy) an effect that lends the work a continuity that would otherwise be lost.A curious addition here is the cover of "Ain't No Sunshine," one that would make Bill Withers sit up and take note. But the melody line is there and so is the intention. I guess hillbillies can get lonely too.Check out my homepage for more 16hp reviews and links.No fancy review here, just a guy who's careful with his $$ and loves good music. I heard only snippets of this album on NPR, but the bits available online (google search for Woven Hand's home page) justified the purchase. I bought this for the musical composition, and only realized the spiritual subject matter after reading the liner notes. Fine by me, I happen to enjoy the viewpoint, but to be honest, this is the first such album I've ever enjoyed. The religious overtones aren't the point, but add to the mood. Nice.There *is* a bit of a dark, almost etherial tone to much of the album, but the pace doesn't ever drag, seems appropriate to each song, and there are a number of songs that pick up the pace. Very well balanced, well mixed, good flow.Other things to try if you like it:Echo and the Bunnymen: Heaven up Here, or Porcupine, either has that etherial, dark mood, grab some headphones, put it on and chill.U2: Joshua TreeXTC: MummerMaterial: Seven Souls (a stretch, but it's world religion commentary, rapped out to a raga beat by William S. Burroughs. Sorry, it popped into my head like the Sta-Puft marshmallow man)Later.This is for me one of their best albums, Not much more i can say except if you haven't listened to them before, this would be a good album to start with, and like me you will probably buy all the other albums and all of Sixteen horsepower also. EnjoyBei diesem Album kommt alles zusammen, was eine hörenswerte CD ausmacht: Gute Songwriterqualitäten, die das Leben in allen seinen Facetten in den Blick nehmen, interessante Melodien, die aufhorchen lassen und äußerst fähige Musiker, welche die sorgsam instrumentierten Stücke mit besonderen Arrangements zu veredeln wissen. Dazu eine saubere, gut ausgelotete Studiotechnik. So ragen alle Titel wie bei einer Brücke hervor, um das Werk zu einem großen Ganzen zu machen.Gekonnte Phrasierungen machen David Eugene Edwards stimmliche Begrenzungen irrelevant, gitarrenhandwerkliche Fertigkeiten, eine Vielzahl überraschender Instrumente und interessant verschachtelte Drums/Percussions lassen keinen Moment lang Müdigkeit aufkommen. Diese Songs wirken um Längen ruhiger und kontemplativer als die Zusammenstellungen von Stücken der Band auf anderen Alben. Bei alledem bin ich weit davon entfernt, zu behaupten, Wovenhand machen eingängige Musik.Und doch gibt es hier Titel, die dem Hörer erleichtern, sich dem Schaffen dieser Gruppe anzunähern, wenn seine Hörgewohnheiten bislang nichts von dieser zwischen leidgeprüfter Sehnsucht und hochfliegender Lebensfreude schwelgenden Band aus Colorado wussten. In äußere Kargheit hinein entfalten Wovenhand hier bemerkenswert melodiöse Stücke wie "The Good Hand", "My Russia", "Wooden Brother" und "Story And Pictures" - nicht ohne Sinn für Dramatik, doch ohne jede Großspurigkeit.Eine wunderschöne und geniale Platte. Ich kann mich meinem Vorgänger/meiner Vorgängerin nur anschließen. Jedes Lied ist absolute SuperKlasse. Die Musik ist weniger von Country-Musik beeinflußt als "Folklore", dadurch viel ZEITLOSER. Und, was nur wenige Platten bieten: die Musik gefällt sowohl dem anspruchsvollen, introvertierten Einzelgänger als auch den Hörern, die gut mit "Mainstream" leben können, wie ich in einem umfangreichen Bekanntenkreis feststellen konnte. Und das trotz der massiven, melancholischen Ausstrahlung. Ein echter Klassiker. Edwards ist sensationell als Songwriter und Sänger und ein echter Poet. Habe alle Platten von 16 Horsepower, aber dies ist mit Abstand die beste. Danach kommt Folklore, danach Blush Music, die "Ballett-Musik-Version" dieser hier besprochenen CD. Für mich der Höhepunkt: "Blue Pale Fever". Und wer immer das bis jetzt hörte (das ist wirklich wahr, u.a. waren es ein paar Polizisten), war verzaubert und absolut hingerissen ! Kaufen und genießen und sich verwöhnen lassen, für die Ewigkeit.Ho acquistato il CD perchè dopo aver sentito l'album su uno dei tanti siti di streaming, ritenendolo uno dei miei 10 dischi preferiti, ho deciso di volerlo ascoltare in modo decente e non in semplice mp3. Ancora più bello!Una obra maestra
