POOR GENETIC MATERIAL – Island Noises
- by Matt Coe
- Posted on 08-07-2011
German progressive art rock band with seven players (including Martin Griffiths on recitation and Pia Darmstaedter on the flute) hit the streets with a 14 song, double disc. Lyrically loosely based on Shakespeare’s The Tempest, Poor Genetic Material aren’t very upbeat in their songwriting – preferring to use atmosphere and slower build ups to get their musical point across. “Banquet Of Illusions” that starts disc two has this Kansas meets Rush 70’s synthesized aura and “In A State Of Grace” has more of a laid back New Age tribal thing going on from drummer Dominik Steinbacher.
Might be fine for some, I have to admit I don’t get what Poor Genetic Material are trying to accomplish with this record. My mind wanders for far too long, and that’s not good for “Island Noises” longevity.