Poor Genetic Material: Elsewhere

I’ve encountered Poor Genetic Material a couple of times in recent years, the band’s sprawling, progressive but not ‘prog’ outlook usually allowing slow releases of clarity that eventually form into excellent albums. Unfortunately with the band’s - they are a trio now - latest outing Elsewhere, I must admit that I’m still waiting for the penny to drop. As ever with this PGM we are in the realm of the soundscape and languid emotions that feel their way towards the listener. This time, however, there’s an even more stripped down feel about what’s been presented, the always excellent vocals from Philip Griffiths left to do an awful lot of the heavy lifting. Admittedly, the man’s Colin Vearcombe (Black) meets Michael Sadler (Saga) in a dowdy mood delivery is as convincing and engaging as you’ll find, but for me there’s little about the almost austere pop sheens that work underneath them on Elsewhere that snags the imagination. And as such, “Take Off�, and especially the 15 minute-plus title track can all too often slip by so uneventfully that you barely even remember they are there.

That’s not to dismiss the skills of Stefan Glomb or Philipp Jaehne who are credited with ‘all instruments’, because the actual performances are excellent. However, for my money, it’s the compositions that don’t quite make the impact this time round, the layers of discovery this outfit usually deliver never quite being peeled back on “Comfort & Pain� or the album closing “Stargazing�.

Ultimately, I’m pretty much convinced that Poor Genetic Material weren’t aiming for an album that feels more like background music than the events their previous outings slowly become. However, all too often on this occasion I find myself forgetting that this album is even doing its thing.

Track Listing
1. The Colour Of Happiness
2. Elsewhere
3. The Star
4. Take-Off
5. Comfort & Pain
6. Pages Turning
7. Stargazing

Added: December 8th 2023
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Poor Genetic Material @ bandcamp
Hits: 375
Language: english

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