LUNATIC SOUL: Fractured (PROGRESSIVE ROCK): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

After the brutal death of the guitarist of his band (Riverside), Mariusz Duda offers us the fifth album of his solo project Lunatic Soul, for which he drew inspiration from his own experience of returning to a "normal" life after such a tragedy. Also announced by its author as the most accessible album of his discography, "Fractured" will indeed deploy a universe that could not be more varied throughout the eight tracks that compose it.

The journey begins with 'Blood on the Tightrope', a post-rock track, mixing electro sounds with bare atmospheres sprinkled with guitar protrusions. The sound is modern and the syncopated rhythmics weave a very particular universe. And it's almost without surprise that the next track, 'Anymore', will take us back to the early hours of Peter Gabriel's solo work, with a clear similarity of inspiration.

However, far from being satisfied with this introduction nicely punctuated by his usual silky voice, Mariusz Duda then invites a string orchestra for a track with subtle symphonic arrangements ('Crumbling Teeth and the Owl Eyes') and makes the big leap towards chill-out atmospheres à la Claude Challe and his "Buddha Bar" compilations, that we find as well in 'Red Light Escape' as on the splendid 'A Thousand Shards of Heaven', this epic title introducing also some jazzy elements thanks to the saxophone of Marcin Odyniec. The eponym track distils an atmosphere of oppressive urgency, finally resolving itself in the sweetness of the next track. The whole is of course supported by the bass lines, which are present and serve as a guiding thread between the different tracks.

If the recurring subject of this album stems from a tragic event, the ambiences woven by the artist finally reveal themselves to be less dark and less melancholic than in his previous works. Where the latter could generate an impression of weariness, "Fractured" presents on the contrary a variety of styles that maintains a constant interest. Autobiographical events are regularly a source of inspiration for the most beautiful artistic works. This seems to be the case here. May this album serve as a catharsis for its progenitor, and help him to continue his musical path for our greatest happiness. - Official website

LUNATIC SOUL

FRACTURED

KSCOPE

PROGRESSIVE ROCK