Poor Genetic Material - 2023 - Elsewhere

(47:05; Poor Genetic Material)

Track list:
1. The Colour of Happiness 4:55
2. Elsewhere 15:20
3. The Star 5:36
4. Take-Off 5:36
5. Comfort and Pain 3:46
6. Pages Turning 4:40
7. Stargazing 7:12

Line-up:
Phil Griffiths - vocals
Stefan Glomb - guitars, bass
Philipp Jaehne - piano, organ, synthesizers, mellotron, programming


Prolusion.
German band Poor Genetic Material have been a feature of the German progressive rock scene for almost a quarter of a century at this point, and the band has been releasing new material at a very steady pace throughout their career so far. If I have managed to count them all correctly, "Elsewhere" is the band's 12th studio effort, and was self released in the fall of 2023.

Analysis.
While I can't say that I recall the past productions I have encountered by this band in full detail, Poor Genetic Material is a band I do associate with being purveyors of a more atmospheric laden variety of progressive rock. And they continue to explore this field of the progressive rock universe also on this most recent production, where careful, elegant and compelling moods and atmospheres remains very much the dominant aspects of the compositions throughout.

Careful and borderline subdued guitar elements with the acoustic guitar as well as the electric guitar combines with floating and flowing keyboards that tend to be textured and soft sounding, with wavelike fluctuations and carefully floating surges of sounds being the order of the day. The calm, controlled and melodic lead vocals bask in the presence of these two dominant instruments, all of them combining into a borderline dreamlike cotton-like substance at times.

This would be a rather boring experience without any contrasting features of course, and the band makes good use of more subtle nuances to add nerve and tension to the proceedings. Tighter guitar licks and a firmer bassline combines with a slightly higher pace to craft sections that are more energetic and with a more defined spine than in the more loose and flowing sections, some psychedelic elements are pulled in here and there and what sounds like small nods in the direction of both jazz and classical guitar details makes their way into these landscapes at times too. Occasionally with a bit more of an expressive keyboard presence too, of the kind that indicates that this is a band that know their way around a little bit of symphonic progressive rock too.

I do find this band to be most interesting when basking in the more elegant and atmospheric laden landscapes. On a small handful of songs we are also provided with sections that are a bit more quirky, off kilter or otherwise breaking the norm of the sophisticated, smooth and elegant just a little bit, and for me these escapades doesn't work quite as well in the context that they are a part of here.  While these impulses does expand the boundaries of the landscapes explored, and do provide a greater amount of variety, they also break and breach the mood and atmosphere of the album as a whole just a little bit, and in sum my impression is that they are more disruptive than productive in the greater scheme of things for this as an album experience.

The mix and production is really good throughout, to my ears at least, with the finer details and nuances coming across as clear, detailed and defined throughout. The album as a whole has a warm and inviting sound, which fits the premises of the music we are provided with perfectly in this case. Giving a bit of an emphasis to the smooth and elegant impression that for me is a defining aspect of this production.

Conclusion.
While this isn't the best album in the Poor Genetic Material discography in my opinion, this is an album with many fine and several solid examples that showcase that this is a band that has smooth, elegant and somewhat understated sophisticated progressive rock as their speciality. If you enjoy progressive rock bands that focus on flowing, floating and soft landscapes with multiple layers of sounds and textures, this is a band and an album that merits a check. With the epic length title track as a highlight as far as my own taste in music is concerned.

Olav "Progmessor" Björnsen, November 2023

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/poorgeneticmaterial