David Eugene Edwards has been making dusty, antique and thoroughly authentic roots music since his days with 16 Horsepower. There is a menacing peace in almost everything Edwards does, and that quality is even more evident in the solo work that he’s done under the Wovenhand banner. On his latest, Mosaic, Edwards balances the light and the dark, from the creeping ambience of the introductory “Breathing Bull” to the gothic hymnalism of “Winter Shaker,” where Edwards intones the verse “All His glory” with murderous folk intensity. Edwards has generally used the Wovenhand platform to more intricately and forcefully elucidate his spiritual stance as a Christian while utilizing a dazzling array of Americana instrumentation to simultaneously establish a moodily expressive atmosphere and give powerful proof of his devotion. If you’re hesitant about being preached at from your stereo, don’t let Edwards’ militant spiritual message deter you from experiencing the melancholic bliss that he delivers with his mesmerizing musical constructions. Listening to Edwards’ Wovenhand work is like being roped into going to church and finding out that Lloyd Cole and Eddie Vedder are in the choir and Tom Waits and Bono are the co-directors. You may find the message is a little more palatable because of the means of delivery. Mosaic is an incredible testament to Edwards’ musical depth as well as his abiding faith.
~ Brian Baker
Release date: August 22, 2006
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