While 16 Horsepower was on extended hiatus in 2003, its members kept busy musically: David Eugene Edwards released two Woven Hand albums and the other two-thirds of the group worked on the sophomore Lilium album, Short Stories. Originally a Pascal Humbert solo project, Lilium expanded to include Jean-Yves Tola as a core member with this release. The duo flesh out this moody, impressionistic album with contributions from dEUS" Tom Barman, John Grant from the Czars, and Morphine"s Billy Conway, among others. 16 Horsepower singer David Eugene Edwards appears on one of the best tracks, the haunting, cello-and-piano death-ramble, "Whitewashed." About a third of the album is devoted to dark, minor-key instrumentals, which (along with male and female vocalists trading off singing duties) makes for a diverse and engaging collection any 16 Horsepower fan is sure to enjoy. But the album also stands apart from its "parent" band -- much like the excellent Woven Hand discs -- and is a worthy project in its own right. Note: the American release of Short Stories contains three bonus tracks, music from the film The Rain Has Forgotten Us composed by Pascal Humbert. ~ Jason Nickey, Rovi