Poor Genetic Material - Summerland


Year of Release: 2001
Label: QuiXote
Catalog Number: QXT CD 13
Format: CD
Total Time: 43:23:00

The album Summerland is the result of the combined forces of two different German bands. The main ingredient comes courtesy of the soundscapes of Poor Genetic Material. The other concerns the voice of Alias Eye singer Philip Griffiths (son of Beggar's Opera singer Martin Griffiths), augmented with Alias Eye drummer Ludwig Benedek. The voice of Griffiths gets close to that of Saga frontman Michael Sadler, which turns the Summerland material into acceptable stuff for fans of pure neo-progressive music as well.

"Wouldism" includes some Celtic influences in the intro before it changes towards a more accessible nature by means of some rhythmic changes. Some of the synth sounds even go as far as referring slightly to the cult band Japan. Mainly using an acoustic set of instruments, this music opens up a lot of intimate atmospheres, as one can witness during "Living Desert," where some vintage Talk Talk references team up with ambient material from the Jean-Michel Jarre household. In "Late" acoustic guitar, piano, and strings mingle together in order to create a perfect basis for Stefan Glomb's sensitive guitar solo, which towards the end is helped out by some Eastern flavoured percussion. In the long title track, the drums rather sound monotonous and synthetic, finally making us see sense as to what it's really all about. "Summerland" is mainly a sugar-candy sweet album because of the emphasis on the soft ambient nature of the arrangements, arrangements that really are too tame to keep you on your toes throughout the entire album. So next time guys, do drink some dragon's tea to get more aggressive. For the time being though this is indeed Poor (Genetic) Material.


Tracklisting:
Shooting Psycho (4:15) / Wouldism (7:35) / Living Desert (5:50) / Just Another Me (4:20) / A Secret Song (5:) / Late (4:40) / Summerland (11:45)

Musicians:
Philip Griffiths - vocals
Philipp Jaehne - keyboards
Ludwig Benedek - drums
Stefan Glomb - guitars, bass

Discography:
Free To Random Vol. 1 (1999)
Free To Random Vol. 2 (2000)
Summerland (2001)
Leap Into Fall (2002)
Winter's Edge (2003)
Spring Tidings (2006)
Paradise Out Of Time (2007)
Island Noise (2011)

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin DE

Added: July 18th 2001
Reviewer: John "Bobo" Bollenberg

Artist website: www.poorgeneticmaterial.com
Hits: 1976
Language: english

  

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