Secret South

16 Horsepower | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 25, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 1999
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Alternative Tentacles
• ASIN: B002BW7AB2
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #48,936 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Two disc (CD/DVD) reissue of the Alt-Rock band's 2000 album including a bonus DVD, which includes a surround sound mix of the album. 16 Horsepower looms large over the entire Alt-Americana musical landscape. Secret South is a cornerstone to this Denver band's legacy, their first indie outing after departing A&M, recorded at Hamilton Glory Lodge outside Blue River, Colorado, in 2000. This album has long been out of print in America and only available on vinyl in a very limited edition in Europe.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 16 HP's best record, June 7, 2010

By 

Canuck Monk (VanCity) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Secret South (Audio CD)

"Secret South", 16 Horsepower's third release, continues to deliver the Gothic Americana/alternative country that has characterized the band's preceding albums. The music packs a ferocious punch of guitar set amidst the ominous lyrics that have become a staple of David Eugene Edwards' songwriting. Lyrics such as "Come an' sing me down/Give my conscious a poundin'/Come an' shake my ground/With the sound of Heaven's houndin'" and "Not gonna join you/In your tower of babble, boy/Tired of that talkin'/I'm sick of that noise" display Edwards' ardent faith in Christianity. The two covers "Wayfaring Stranger" and "Nobody 'Cept You" are also excellent, particularly the latter which was written by Bob Dylan. As with Woven Hand, 16 Horsepower always delivers a brooding, alternative country/rock record with chilling, prophetic words.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars TUNES FROM THE BURNING BUSH, August 30, 2011

By 

RELENTLESS "VIDTREKKER" (JUST SOUTH OF OZ) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Secret South (Audio CD)

Secret South is my personal favorite in the canon that was 16 HORSEPOWER. The intensity and masterful compositions combined with meticulous mastering of the material sets this release apart from anything David Eugene Edwards has ever done...before or since (for me). The various supporting musicians performing this work have helped shaped this masterpiece into a landscape that is both haunting and ethereal...not to be missed. The power of "SPLINTERS" alone is one of the most poetic confessions on the dangers of self-destructiveness I've ever heard. DEE burns with an honest personal intensity that is remarkable and revelatory...his religious conviction permeates these tracks which are as moving as they are apocalyptic. His commitment to his art is astonishing.

The original 2000 release of the album was mastered very well. It was hard to imagine that it could be improved upon...but it was. In 2009 I purchased the two disc set that houses the remastered version and the 5.1 AUDIO DVD of the same material (with a bonus live cut at album's end). I have given a very critical ear to both the STD and REMASTERED versions...and the remastered version is noticeably better (almost profoundly). The overall effect is smoother and more "OPEN" than the original...it actually "breathes" in Dolby PLIIx when all 5 speakers are cranking...it is nothing less than a revelation of sonic perfection. The way in which the music and the effects are blended together testifies to the care each track was mixed and finally cut together. The first three tracks are linked together with no separation between them (curiously, this was abandoned for the 5.1 mix) which, to me, greatly enhances the listening experience. For my money, the remastered version is the one to have on a desert island.

The 5.1 mix is a different way to listen to this masterwork. I won't say better because some of the mastering choices are curious and unusual. For one, each track is considered separately...no linkage. Second, although the surround mix has power and clarity, placement is slightly disconcerting. Vocals are most prominent in the rear left and shared (slightly) with the right front...choosing not to place the vocals more center stage (for me) was a strange decision. As a result, the definition of DEEs (intentionally) distorted vocals and certain musical accents gets lost in the mix. Thirdly, the various "sound effects" originally incorporated in the original and remastered mix appears more pronounced and "harsh", eliminating the subtlety of the work... which I find distracting. Your final impression of this version will rely on your basic familiarity with surround mixing and your willingness to be open to something slightly unconventional...as always, it is a personal preference that prevails.

Overall, if you're new to the realm of 16 HORSEPOWER or if you're backtracking from what you know about WOVEN HAND, you will want to have the REMASTERED VERSION of SECRET SOUTH and revel in one of the most enveloping sonic experiences you will ever know.