Genetic Selection:
"World of Tomorrow"

Track list:

01. The New Order
02. Epic Dreams
03. The Last Days
04. A Man and His Droid
05. Way of Truth
06. Dust Devil
07. Alive but Lost
08. Whispers in the Dark
09. Another World
10. Endgame
11. Brotherhood of Steel
12. Poisoned Water
13. The Beyond

Total Play Time: 65:41

Information:

Label: Ant-Zen

Serial: act 195

Title/Format: World of Tomorrow / CD

Band/Artist: Genetic Selection

Site: Genetic Selection's webpage and MySpace page

Genetic Selection has always been a bit of an oddity on the Ant-Zen label (at least to me). Even with the music containing crunchy beats reminiscent of 'rhythmic noise' style music that other Ant-Zen artists use, the music has boarded pretty close to more standard styles of EBM or straight forward clear beats at times. Not to say the music is out of place very much (like say a country album being released on Ant-Zen), but I've had it in mind that Ant-Zen aims for something unconventional in sound with their releases. I've liked all of the albums by Genetic Selection though, and the third and latest World of Tomorrow doesn't break that trend no matter what label the music is released by.

With the album's first track The New Order there is a short introduction with the beats being brought in piecemeal until they come together into an addictive, foot-tapping climax. Within moments of the beat's climax, the music is broken down into a maze of various distorted sounds reminiscent of a clipped radio message. There are some organ-like sounds eerily brought in to transition the breakdown back to the beats, which manage to get even more interesting.

The songs seem to have this similar structure, which is what I think makes Genetic Selection's music so intriguing. It can go from a straight forward, dance-like EBM sounding disc into these realms of operatic style music (Epic Dreams has moments highlighting this) or into an atmospheric ambience, borderlining IDM (see Way of Truth as an example). It's meant to grab your soul and make it want to move, while other times it wants you to stop and contemplate a deeper emotion or thought.

I couldn't let this going without saying also, cause it completely caught me off guard at first. My first time listening through World of Tomorrow was while I was at work actually doing some work (unbelievable to some I am sure), and I had gotten myself in a haze. The music was carrying me along with it's energy, while also soothing my soul so well that it melded together with my work. I was really tapping my foot to this one song that had come on, when I stopped and had to check which disc I had in the player. Sure enough it was Genetic Selection, but I was actually hearing lyrics (not sound samples) which shocked me. The song was Brotherhood of Steel and it's beat was very much Genetic Selection which was why I didn't catch the lyrics right away I think. The PQ Sessions are the source of the lyrics, and the vocal style went very well with the music that I wouldn't be disappointed to see more in the future.

I was sold on Genetic Selection back when Orbital Ground Attack first came out. The music was fun to listen to then, and remains so to this day with the release of World of Tomorrow. This third album seems to be the most well-rounded in sound, making the album's tracks stand out more so then the previous two albums. Sticking true to the good elements of his music, Boris Kasper (aka: Genetic Selection) managed to evolve at the same time. To me that's a great formula for success!

Reviewed by Bry'n
5.22.08
Webmaster: Bry'n. Email: dj_darksliyht