This EP is the result of a cross-border project that began a little over two years ago. A French musician from The Wooden Wolf and two German musicians from Lambs & Wolves came together in 2024 to compose songs collaboratively.

The album opens with “Water”. The vocals are simple, as is the guitar, which has a jangly, slightly haunting quality. As the song builds, drums are introduced and the track begins to feel more fully formed. It moves at a relaxed tempo, and as it unfolds, it draws you in almost effortlessly.

“Friend of Mine” opens with drums and piano. It is again a slow burn, but it comes alive when the vocals enter, full and reverberant, filling the space when given room to breathe. As the song nears its climax, a subtle background motif gradually comes to the fore, introducing a slight sense of unease before the track resolves.

I have to admit I wasn’t taken with “Things I Lost in the Fire”. It is a dark, brooding track, heavy with bass and low vocals, occasionally joined by brighter vocal lines, but it didn’t quite sit right with me. As the song progresses, there is some nice piano work, but not enough to redeem it in my view, as it only adds to a sense of disjointedness.

The next track, “Fanal”, again has a darker tone, with piano hammering out a repeating motif, joined, I think, by a violin played in a rather menacing style. It is certainly a dark piece, but something about it captures the imagination and makes it feel like a cohesive track.

The EP closes with “Child of God”, and again we hear something new, this time an emotive organ or keyboard sound. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but it feels reminiscent of something from the 60s or 70s, perhaps even with a hint of Lou Reed.

There is a lot to like here, but also some elements that don’t quite land for me. Still, I’m sure different listeners will take something entirely different from it.