Two thirds of 16 Horsepower. As for the mix of ingredients, it's off to a great start. What's left is to add melancholy and autumn. And why not, a postcard with yellowing leaves falling on a Parisian boulevard. And then there's that shabby, somewhat mended coat, but oh so comfortable and warm, that perhaps it's time to throw away.
Pascal Humbert and Jean-Yves Tola create, with the help of numerous friends, an excellent work, suspended between that vague French autumn warmth and the most intimate Leonard Cohen. They stray away from the more strictly folkloric matrix they accustomed us to, although it's always there just around the corner, like in Lover, a classic piece featuring slide guitar, with perfectly fitting lyrics, and Whitewashed, the climax of yearning, where 16 Horsepower is complete, with David Eugene Edwards on vocals. Miles Away is a laconic blow to the heart where Humbert, alone, gives his best.
Apart from the excellent husky voice of the unknown Kal Cahoone, the duo also surprisingly brings out "my" Tom Barman in his most feline form. The only downside is an intrusive and filler keyboard that sneaks into at least a couple of songs, ruining a smoky and languid atmosphere.
The days of dusty country are far gone, a path Edwards remained faithful to with the Woven Hand project. Humbert and Tola change course quite distinctly compared to their debut "Transmission of All The Good-Byes", which was almost entirely devoid of singing and more "basic" in instrumentation and ambiance. "Short Stories" instead is rich with twilight suggestions, whispered with soft tones. It warms and envelops the heart. After all, with Dana Colley's sax, of morphine fame, appearing in a couple of songs (the instrumental Cavalcade and The Trap), it couldn't be otherwise.
Tracklist and Videos
Loading comments slowly