Galizen is interesting in a couple of ways. For starters, Runde 1 uses relatively mundane elements to create something that sounds far from mundane. Bright cymbals and pleasantly alluring guitar lines are hardly the usual elements of forward looking music and yet here they are creating just that. Moreover, the material is mood music that isn't afraid to get funky. It is laid back and untraditionally soulful music. If all of that seems like a bit much, just think of the group as a variation on the Art Ensemble of Chicago.

Not that there aren't differences between Runde 1 and that Windy City outfit. Runde 1 isn't as rooted in "traditional jazz" as the AEC and instead it substitutes an equal amount of electronic and pop influences.

Each of the eight cuts is unique piece of writing with musical conceptions put into play. For instance, the opener, "(neben geysiren).ob", centers around cymbals, an electronic keyboard, with a soft yet squawking horn on top. "ein tag wenn du warst" has a delayed groove and deep pocket propelled by snare shots that anyone can keep up with and most listeners will want to. The title cut has a very futuristic and space age feel but remains inviting. The music is on the whole a fun, enjoyable, and seamless blend of electronica, drum n' bass, and jazz.

All is not well, however. In fact there is crippling problem with Galizen. None of the tracks lasts over 5 minutes and 20 seconds and the disc as whole as a duration 32 minutes. The musicians thus never seem get a chance to dig very deep into the material and take themes to their logical conclusion. All they can do is create strong themes. The result is series of tracks too bare to be great improvised music and too complex and challenging to be just enjoyable pop. Hopefully in the future, the members of Runde 1 will either take the time to develop their ideas or, if there is some question about their instrumental capabilities, work with musicians who can do that. The material is too strong to be presented like this.