When reviewing Poor Genetic Material's Summerland in 2001, I was impressed by how the band managed to fuse various elements from the new wave eighties within a progressive rock context. The band then worked as an experimental project with just Stefan Glomb (guitar) and Philipp Jaehne (keyboards) as permanent members of the band. However the critical acclaim that Summerland generated, caused the four members on that album to modify their approach and work in a band-orientated way with the addition of Dennis Sturm on bass, a feat that has worked well for these five guys as Leap into Fall is a great step forwards in the right direction.
Starting off with the lengthy Rush Of Ages, the band show the new level of material they have achieved and the homogeneity that their sound has acquired, primarily because of their working as a whole unit and not as individual musicians getting together for an album. This track features everything that one would want to hear in a prog-rock epic. There are hints of New Age, electronica and even touches of blues-rock, accompanied by delightful guitar and piano solos which hark back to the golden days of prog. Glomb's guitar work sounds so much Howe-like while Griffiths' vocals combine power with feeling. It is unfair to single out individual musicians as this is a collective effort which resounds throughout the whole of the album.
Thin Red Line maintains the progressive touch on the album though the band seem to resort to a more placid style with watery keyboards and acoustic guitar coupled with some great vocal harmonies. A band whose reference rarely, if ever, seems to crop up in the music of Poor Genetic Material is Jethro Tull. Star Of Eden cannot be described as a typical Tullian work, yet the awkward use of the vocals, jaunted time signatures, and the occasional sound of the flute makes this track sound like a cross between Jethro Tull and Gentle Giant in twentieth century mode!
The title track Leap Into Fall has a strong commercial touch having more in common with the rockier side of bands such as Toto and the more commercial pieces of Marillion. Having said that, it still fits in snugly between the afore-mentioned progressive pieces and complex Antares. Antares is as complex as they come with strange chords intermingling with one another creating a backdrop of dissonance that gives way to strong syncopated rhythmic backing. This track has really blown me away and its complexity seems to increase with every listen as various intricacies become more and more apparent. In my opinion this is one of the standout tracks of the album.
As the album draws to a close with the ballad-like Fall, I cannot but admit that once again Poor Genetic Material have come up trumps. This is a band that deserves all the coverage that they can get from the progressive rock world. Their ability to blend classical progressive rock within a more commercial rock structure is something that few progressive rock bands have managed to create. Leap Into Fall is simply one of those albums whose music flows by the listener in such a way that what many times seems to irk non-progressive loving rock fans goes by unnoticed unless searched for. This album is made of great stuff. Go get it!
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