Last year I reviewed Elsewhere (2023, see review), the latest album of Poor Genetic Material from Germany. I was really NOT impressed indeed - I think, that is even an understatement - as on that album the band was reduced to three members. Also, the fact that the drums on Elsewhere were electronic ones did not really help and so my review was rather poor, but I was mostly disappointed as Here Now (see review), their album from 2020 was a really excellent album indeed. Now, the full band is back with a powerful new album, although it is almost a "mini" album as the playing time is just over the forty-three-minute mark.... The album opens with the formidable title track, starting with an exceptionally soft, instrumental intro, but slowly the music gets louder and there are lots of musical twists and turns; indeed, so a great opener of this new album. Follow-up Rain, clocking on over eight minutes, kicks off with acoustic guitar chords and you can also enjoy slight classical elements and even electronic sounds, which are not really my cup of tea.... Old Buffoon is the odd one out here, as it is a kind of Beatles song featuring the guest vocals of Martin Griffiths (Beggars Opera and father of the bands lead singer of Philip Griffiths); sometimes this track even sounds quite folky; indeed, again, sorry, but not my cup of tea.... An Island In Time, almost thirteen minutes long, is the epic song of this album and this one starts with lots of keys, synthesizers and even Mellotron, followed by beautiful instrumental parts, making this track probably the best of the album indeed. Finally, the album ends with a song called Contingency being a rather complex and diverse track. So, overall, Poor Genetic Material has delivered a really decent album again with songs ranging from rather complex to rather accessible prog rock with no real super songs, but it is a far better album then their previous "filler" Elsewhere, so the band is on the right track again. ***+ Martien Koolen (edited by Tracy van Os van den Abeelen) Where to buy? |
