I remember reading a review of Mark Lanegan?s ?Whiskey for the Holy Ghost? in which the writer noted the title and wrote ?Take that, Nick Cave.? That comment could just as easily apply to 16 Horsepower?s, ?Hoarse.? The disc is a reissue of a live album 16 HP recorded at various points during 1998 and which was originally issued in 2001. Like Lanegan, (and Cave), 16 Horsepower played (the band disbanded in 2005) music that brought together elements of country, folk, spiritual, blues and post punk. What set the band apart was their songwriting and the intensity of vocalist David Eugene Edwards, whose delivery brings to mind the late Jeffrey Lee Pierce. Perhaps, instead of placing them in opposition, one could say that 16 Horsepower were to the Bad Seeds what the Gun Club were to the Birthday Party.

Aside from Savage renditions of their own material, ?Hoarse?, contains an excellent cover of the Gun Club?s ?Fire Spirit?, along with an ominous run through of Creedence Clearwater Revival?s ?Bad Moon Rising? and a brooding take on Joy Division?s ?Day of the Lords.? ?Hoarse? males for an excellent introduction to the band and a great addition to Alternative Tentacle?s reissue series. 9/10 -- Neddal Ayad (27 June, 2006)