SPIRIT ANIMAL

Spirit Animal by Zombi is progressive electronic music with more of a symphonic progressive rock touch and elements from traditional rock instruments such as electric guitar and acoustic drum kit, but the music still has a very progressive electronic feel. The soundscapes on this album vary in texture and intensity, sometimes ominous and sometimes very wondrous and delightful. As other reviewers have stated, the Spirit Animal theme and the rock-oriented influence on this album seems fitting to the movement to more organic sounds in Zombi's music. The first track, "Spirit Animal", is very Genesis and Yes influenced symphonic electronic rock, dominated by synths and powerful drums, and includes multiple passages that sometimes include acoustic guitar touches. "Spirit Warrior" is similar, but a bit more aggressive in its delivery, and has a bass-dominated passage that fits well with the more rock- oriented feel of this album. "Earthly Powers" still follows the same example set by the previous two track, but with an even darker feel. The album gets progressively more aggressive as it moves forward, and "Cosmic Powers" is next up on developing a darker, more electronic feel. This track is dominated by repetitive bass-like keyboards that move steadily with the strong percussion, but it doesn't develop at all except for the track ending in a drum solo. "Through Time" seems like a continuation of the previous track, also utilizing the bass-like keyboards, except with less energy and more of a sludgy elephant-like walking pace tempo, still accompanied by powerful drumming. It speeds up, but the mood and overall effect of the song doesn't change at all.

I liked this album for what it was. I don't really consider Zombi to be a full on progressive electronic duo, but more of an experimental duo attempting to combine the genres of progressive electronic, symphonic prog, and heavy prog. If that is the case, then they do it well. I get a very strong Rush-meets-Schulze-meets-Solaris impression from this album, and it really isn't bad music. I'd say this album has great crossover appeal across the genres noted above.