Detailed Reviews [Poor Genetic Material - 2024 - "Possibilities"]

Prolusion. German band Poor Genetic Material has been a feature in the progressive rock scene for the past 25 years or thereabouts, and they have released material at a very steady pace over the years with more than a dozen albums to their name as of 2024. Their most recent studio album is called "Possibilities", and was self released in the spring of 2024.

Analysis. Poor Genetic Material is a band that, at least to my knowledge, have always had the more widely appealing varieties of progressive rock as their speciality. This is very much the case also on this latest album of theirs. Flowing and floating moods and atmospheres is the order of the day here, with a liberal amount of instrumental passages and the keyboards given plenty of time and space to cater for the more dominant parts of the arrangements. We get more romantic passages that aren't too far removed from a band like Camel in sound and expression, complete with elegant flute details, and on one occasion a little bit of a jazz flirt has been included too. And while not quite in the vein of Latimer, elegant and dreamladen guitar solo runs is something of a staple in the landscapes explored here too. That being said, in terms of overall sound and the traditions explored I do find this album to be closer to 1990s neo-progressive rock and on some occasions the original 1980s neo-progressive rock as well. But with some noted similarities to aforementioned Camel on a few different instrument details. And while elegant and alluring are keywords, we also get passages with a darker and more brooding mood and atmosphere alongside surges into subtly more dramatic territories. Which kind of comes with the territory for bands described as being neo-progressive in nature. As is often the case with bands that have a more creative nature we do get a few deviations from the norm to enjoy too, with the title track featuring what I might describe as a little bit of a subtle exotic vibe, and later on the brief 'Old Buffoon' kind of makes me think of 60s pop/rock tossed into an accessible neo-progressive context. If such a description makes any sense at all to anyone. And as expected from a veteran band, everything has been mixed and produced at the quality level one would expect.

Conclusion. Those who tend to enjoy the more atmospheric laden and dreamladen varieties of neo-progressive rock will probably be aware of Poor Genetic Material already. And while not all of their albums may fit as well inside the parameters laid down initially as others, this is a band that often have had something to provide for this specific audience. "Possibilities" is another one of those albums, a production that warrants a check by those fond of the more widely appealing and atmospheric laden varieties of neo-progressive rock.

Progmessor: May 2024
The Rating Room