Transition II is the first release from Lunatic Soul since Mariusz Duda announced his shock departure from Riverside on 23rd April 2026 after 25 years with the Polish band. It is clear that Duda is determined to clearly mark this new chapter in his career as soon as possible with this release, which very largely has its origins in the excellent Lunatic Soul 2020 release Through Shaded Woods.
Three of the four tracks on this album have been released previously as part of the bonus disc on Through Shaded Woods, although they have all been remixed, and the epic title track has been ‘condensed’ from nearly 28 minutes to 23 minutes, mainly to enable its release on vinyl. The extended piece Realm of the Weeping Willows is the only fully original song on Transitions II. In the sleeve notes Mariusz Duda reveals that this opening track was first ‘sketched’ in the recording sessions for Through Shaded Woods in 2020, but was not fully completed until early 2026.
The Progressive Aspect comprehensively reviewed Through Shaded Woods (including these tracks on the bonus disc), alongside an interview with Mariusz Duda, in 2020, so we will not re-tread too much old ground. Sure, the older tracks have been remixed, but they were well recorded back then so any difference will probably only be discernible to ardent mega-fans with the ears of a bat! Obviously, the main attraction for Lunatic Soul followers is the new opening track Realm of the Weeping Willows. This commences very much in the vein of Through Shaded Woods with a throbbing folky sounding synth with a swirling hypnotic guitar and bass riff. It does feel like we are being drawn into some sort of sylvan ritual deep in the woods. There are no significant lyric vocals, but Duda’s chants and vocalisations add to the sense of some sort of shamanic ritual. These recede, leaving some chiming acoustic guitar and plangent keyboard notes before the bewitching groove returns. Eventually we reach an eerie musical clearing with plaintive vocalisations, a throbbing synth and a harmonica-like sound. A simple guitar line leads us down a gentle path and the guitar echoes and increases in pace and sound, whilst Duda chants. One never quite knows where Duda will take us next, but this enchanting instrumental journey is well worth joining.
Interestingly, Mariusz Duda decided to change the sequence of these tracks from the order in which they were presented on the Through Shaded Woods bonus disc, so the distinctly rocking Hylophobia comes next, rather than after Vyraj. That sequencing makes sense in the context of this album as the almost Riverside-like guitar riffing of Hylophobia is a real wake-up call after the hypnotic rhythms of the opening piece, and is a distinct contrast to the love affair with woodland scenes evoked elsewhere on this album. Indeed, the dictionary definition of Hylophobia is ‘an irrational and intense fear of forests, woods, or trees’, reflected in the insistent dark beat of this piece.
In contrast Duda takes us to a rather more welcoming environment in Vyraj, which in Polish / Slavic folklore is a warm heavenly paradise where birds fly for the winter, where spring originates and where souls go to after death. The folky rhythms and flowing guitars and basses roll along optimistically. This is very much in the style of the main Through Shaded Woods album so it’s probably not surprising it was relegated to the ‘bonus’ disc of the original release. However, one significant advantage of re-releasing these remixed songs in a new format on this new release is that Duda has moved them away from the shadow of that impressive main album. Here these pieces stand out much more, revealing their own enchanting energy and identity.
Transition II is presented here in ‘condensed’ form and similarly to the rest of the album it really benefits from being untethered from its origins on a bonus disc. Not only has Duda edited out four minutes from the original version, he has also framed this epic piece in lighter tones, giving more space to the music.
The influence of Mike Oldfield and other artists such as Dead Can Dance shines out in Transition II. In an interview with TPA Duda shared:
‘…I was inspired by bands like Dead Can Dance, early Mike Oldfield albums, ‘Passion’ by Peter Gabriel and Clannad. So everywhere there is this folk background. I wanted to focus more on my own folk backgrounds which are more Slavic or Slavonic… I just wanted to finally do something which has this Folk flavour from the beginning to the end, especially as it was connected with the forest.’
This desire to plough his own musical furrow may also be a clue as to why eventually Duda felt frustrated and constrained within Riverside and decided to transition into new musical territory. Transition II as a track is an inspiring mixture of styles held together majestically with a hypnotic central theme, somehow bringing together folk, rock, dance rhythms, psychedelia and ambient electronica. This epic piece allows Mariusz space to develop themes in a series of intertwined sections and captivating explorations in sounds.
After the rising, insistent opening section we enter a delightful sonic cave of twinkling xylophone type sounds, soft percussive sounds and an incredibly subtle bass. A banjo gives a more earthy feel leading to sounds of a person breathing. Compared to the original version this condensed version of Transition II does sound less synth driven and more organic… and human. We emerge from that musical cave out into the light with a softly played acoustic guitar and shimmering keyboards. There is a distinct feeling of a walk through the musical woods with the emphasis on organic sounds rather than rock or electronica. It also continues to express Duda’s Polish identity with Slavic / Slavonic Folk influences.
The final Awakening section feels as if we are emerging from the forest in an almost Oldfield Tubular Bells-style finale as layer upon layer is laid down musically. Transition II wistfully fades out echoing with the strange vocalisations originally heard on the Lunatic Soul album Under a Fragmented Sky in the opening song He Av En. There are always connections at varying levels on and between Lunatic Soul albums.
Transition II is an excellent ‘place holder’ release, taking us on a sylvan journey, presenting old and new Lunatic Soul material and thereby shedding new light on some previous and probably under-estimated ‘bonus’ material. Most artists can only dream of producing such high-quality material.
It will be fascinating to see in what direction Mariusz Duda and his Lunatic Soul project goes now that he has completed his Circle of Life and Death series of eight albums. Transition II is a fitting coda to that cycle.
TRACK LISTING
01. Realm Of The Weeping Willows (11:42)
02. Hylophobia [2026 Remix] (3:22)
03. Vyraj [2026 Remix] (5:34)
04. Transition II [Condensed version – 2026 Remix] (23:00)
– I. When I Met The Ferryman
– II. Remember, Forget
– III. Fireflies
– IV. All Those Nice Memories
– V. Miss You
– VI. Back In The Forest
– VII. Awakening
MUSICIANS
Mariusz Duda – All Vocals & Instruments
– Voices, Basses, Piccolo Basses, Acoustic Guitars, Ukulele, Banjo, Piano, Keyboards, Kalimba, Drums, Percussion
ADDITIONAL INFO
Record Label: Kscope
Country of Origin: Poland
Date of Release: 26th June 2026
DISCOGRAPHY
– Lunatic Soul (2008)
– Lunatic Soul II (2010)
– Impressions (2011)
– Walking on a Flashlight Beam (2014)
– Fractured (2017)
– Under a Fragmented Sky (2018)
– Through Shaded Woods (2020)
– The World Under Unsun (2025)
– Transition II (2026)
LINKS
Lunatic Soul – Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | X | Instagram
