Through Shaded Woods
Through Shaded Woods gives Lunatic Soul a more acoustic, folk-influenced setting. Mariusz Duda builds much of the music around repeating figures, percussion and layered voices, creating a sound that can feel both intimate and active. The best pieces are immediately appealing, although the consistent textures leave less room for surprise as the album progresses.
Navvie makes a strong opening. Its repeating acoustic figure and firm percussion provide an inviting rhythm, with the singing moving between breathier phrases and clearer melody.
The Passage takes that sound somewhere heavier. A mournful vocal and an acoustic pattern establish the song before more distorted textures interrupt the setting. The contrast is effective within the piece, even if its stronger progressive-rock movement stands slightly apart from the surrounding folk material.
The title track returns to a more restrained approach. Wordless singing moves above a simple figure, with new layers entering gradually. It is an effective use of repetition, giving the arrangement a sense of growth without requiring a series of large instrumental changes.
Oblivion is another highlight. The guitar figure and steady beat create a clear melodic focus, making the song one of the most accessible parts of the record.
Summoning Dance develops related rhythmic ideas on a larger scale, but its length also exposes the limits of the album's consistent approach. Some of the music has less distinct character than the strongest opening passages. The Fountain then closes the original sequence more gently, combining piano and acoustic guitar with a particularly exposed vocal.
The record's appeal rests on that shared atmosphere. Listeners looking for frequent stylistic changes may find the repeated rhythms and vocal patterns too similar. Yet Through Shaded Woods makes a convincing change of setting for Lunatic Soul. Its strongest songs use a small collection of sounds with care, producing melodic, quietly absorbing music that gains force from the rhythm beneath it.
