Recorded at Maison Rouge, London, England in 1996. The Dirty Three are a violinist, guitarist and drummer who play instrumental rock that lies somewhere between Italian film music, American bluegrass and free jazz. The Australian trio has gained an underground reputation by touring as an opener for Pavement, Sonic Youth and Beck. HORSE STORIES, the Dirty Three's third American album, sounds nearly haunted, with tremendously moving "slow-core" ballads fueled by a seemingly inexhaustible pathos. The song titles are enough to suggest the tragic state of this band's soul: "I Remember A Time When Once You Used To Love Me," "Warren's Lament," and "I Knew it Would Come To This" are as forlorn as Joy Division songs. Thankfully, the trio release this heartbreak with incredible dirge-like passages in which the violin, guitar and drums all gallop freely toward an ecstatic catharsis. It is during these moments that one understands that the Dirty Three do not wallow in their depression--they are hoping and dreaming all the while.

1. 1000 Miles
2. Sue's Last Ride
3. Hope
4. I Remember A Time When Once You Used To Love Me
5. At The Bar
6. Red
7. Warren's Lament
8. Horse
9. I Knew It Would Come To This