Lithuanian acoustic guitarist and singer-songwriter Algis Fediajevas returns with his fourth album, Po trejų metų (After Three Years), released on Resonating Wood Recordings, an independent music label based in Slovakia. Algis seems drawn to England, perhaps because of its rich folk history and the strong influence that people like Roy Harper have had on his music. Mark Elliott in Hadleigh recorded this latest release, and it is the second album of his to be recorded in England, following on from Pėdsakų lede nepalikus in 2019.
Nature is a common theme in the lyrics of Fediejevas, and this album has many examples of how nature and our interaction with nature can profoundly impact our lives. Starting with rather stark harmonics, the opening track, Bėgantys ir sustingę (Those who run and those who are frozen), is the longest on the album and perfectly showcases the improvisation that Algis’ live shows are famous for. He can attack a guitar and make it sound like a machine, while at other times, his gentle fingerpicking is soothing and full of melody.
The themes vary, and while the album does deal with darkness, an optimistic, enduring light also prevails in the music and lyrics, most notably on Vaike (Kid). Šešėliai (Shadows) starts with gently guitar playing, a tambourine faintly shaking in the background, and is perhaps the most melodic song on the album until the mood changes. Again, there is defiance in the lyrics – ‘But the gates are opened, the shadows released, and seen off, and lifted.’ I recommend listening with headphones to really appreciate the faint percussion sounds in the background.
Snaigės (Snowflakes) features wonderful fluttering sounds played by Emma Reed, which drift in and out to add depth to Algis’ playing and singing. Kai pašaukei (When You Summoned) seems to be a celebration of inspiration and the preciousness of creating a song – ‘Summoned with a song I suddenly arose. As flashed by the lightning, as wrapped by the light’.
The album ends with Kai sutikau P.S. (When I met P.S.), a tribute song. It has a drone-like quality while Algis dynamically plays, aggressively scratching the guitar strings and then gently plucking melodies. Lyrically, he expresses gratitude to the song’s subject: ‘You followed me with a smile, and caressed with a pure heart’. Featuring artwork from his sister Julija, the vinyl and CD packaging is very aesthetically pleasing, and both contain booklets of the lyrics, which have been translated into English. While Algis sings in his native Lithuanian tongue, his voice and atmospheric melodies have a deeply engaging honesty that crosses any possible language barrier and can be appreciated by everyone.
Bandcamp: https://resonatingwoodrecordings.bandcamp.com/album/po-trej-met