The Invisible (band)
| The Invisible | |
|---|---|
 The Invisible Press Picture - Credit: Mads Perch |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | London, United Kingdom |
| Genres | Experimental rock[1] Indie rock |
| Years active | 2006–present |
| Labels | Accidental |
| Website | Official blog |
| Members | |
| Dave Okumu - Vocals, Guitar Tom Herbert - Bass Leo Taylor - Drums |
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The Invisible are a band based in London, United Kingdom and fronted by the singer and guitarist Dave Okumu. The band formed as Okumu's solo project but quickly developed into a full fledged band with friends Tom Herbert (bass & synthesizer) and Leo Taylor (drums). Their self-titled debut album, released on 9 March 2009, was nominated for the Mercury Prize[2] and selected as critics choice for iTunes album or the year[3] .
Contents |
[edit] History
The Invisible began in 2006 with Okumu, who – encouraged by Matthew Herbert to record solo material – soon realised he required the input of friends Leo Taylor (formerly of Gramme and Zongamin) and Tom Herbert (a member of Polar Bear (British band) and Acoustic Ladyland) to make real the sounds inside his head. Herbert's Accidental Records spawned the production of the band's first official release, the one-track 7 inch vinyl "Constant" in early 2008[4] .
The name arrived after the three began writing. The moniker is a nod to the writing of Irish philosopher and poet John O'Donohue, who articulated the notion that humans exist in parallel worlds – the visible and the invisible; one physical, one spiritual.
In February 2008 the band's single "Monster's Waltz", made available through their MySpace page, was promoted by the influential[citation needed] BBC Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe[5]. Playing numerous live dates and supporting bands such as Foals and Hot Chip,The Invisible's exploratory, expansive pop music continued to gather attention over the following months. The band's third single, "London Girl", received widespread and attention and praise upon release in December 2008.
The Invisible released their eponymous debut album on 9 March 2009. Produced by Matthew Herbert, "The Invisible" was nominated for the Mercury Prize and selected as critics choice for iTunes album or the year.
Their singles have been remixed by a number of acts, including several artists from Accidental Records such as Matthew Herbert, Micachu, Hot Chip and Kwes.
[edit] Reception
The band's tongue-in-cheek definition of their style of music is Experimental Genre-Spanning Spacepop. They have been compared to bands such as Bloc Party and TV on the Radio,[6] even though Dave Okumu has strongly denied knowledge of the latter of these.[7]
The band received widespread praise for their debut album - "The Invisible" was awarded 4 out of 5 stars from music magazines Q and Mojo[8], whilst being described by BBC Music as "a towering work that's enough to captivate the minds of even the most desperate souls out there"[9] . The album also received positive reviews from newspapers including The Sun (United Kingdom), The Independent and Metro (British newspaper).
[edit] Production work and second album
The Invisible has finished recording and self-producing their second album in Brighton which is due for release in 2012. The second album is to be titled Rispah and its first single Protection was preimiered through online music magazine, The Quietus[10].
Outside of the band endeavours, members have enbarked on production and session work. Dave Okumu has co-written and produced South London singer Jessie Ware's debut album[11]; Tom Herbert contniues to play as part of post-jazz band Polar Bear; Leo Taylor has contributed drums for songs on Adele's second album 21, including its leading single Rolling In The Deep[12].
[edit] Discography
[edit] Singles
- Constant/Passion (7 inch single, 2007)
- Monster's Waltz (7 inch single, 2008)
- London Girl (single, 2008)
- OK (single 2009)
- Come Together (cover of The Beatles) (free download, 2009)
- Protection (single, 2012)
[edit] Albums
- The Invisible (album, 2009)
- Rispah (album, 2012)
[edit] Guest appearances
- Spiral (single on Gilles Peterson's Brownswood Bubblers Three Compilation, 2008)
- Monster's Waltz (Rework Medley) (appears on Micachu & Kwes' Kwesachu Mixtape Vol.1, 2009)
[edit] References
- ^ "The Invisible - British Council - Russia". British Council. http://www.britishcouncil.org/russia-projects-arts-home-the-invisible.htm. Retrieved 2011-12-29.
- ^ "BBC -Mercury Prize 2009". BBC -Mercury Prize 2009. http://www.bbc.co.uk/musicevents/mercuryprize/2009/nominations/invisible/.
- ^ "The Invisible hailed by iTunes as Album of the Year". The Invisible hailed by iTunes as Album of the Year. Accidental Records. http://accidentalrecords.tumblr.com/post/1013967136/the-invisible-hailed-by-itunes-as-album-of-the.
- ^ "Boomkat - The Invisible 'Constant' Release". Boomkat - The Invisible 'Constant' Release. http://boomkat.com/vinyl/73114-the-invisible-constant.
- ^ "Band Blog Entry". MySpace. http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=184376820&blogId=361759908. Retrieved 2009-04-15.
- ^ Lester, Paul (2009-01-09). "Album review". London: The guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/jan/09/new-band-the-invisible. Retrieved 2009-04-15.
- ^ "Band blog entry". MySpace. http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=184376820&blogId=476928034. Retrieved 2009-04-15.
- ^ "See reviews". MySpace. http://www.myspace.com/theinvisiblethree. Retrieved 2009-04-15.
- ^ Thomas, Lou. "The Invisible Review". The Invisible Review. BBC - Music. http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/6c54.
- ^ "The Quietus - News - LISTEN: The Invisible - 'Protection'". The Quietus. http://thequietus.com/articles/07992-listen-the-invisible-protection.
- ^ "Jessie Ware Records Album". Red Bull. http://www.redbull.co.uk/cs/Satellite/en_UK/Article/Jessie-Ware-Records-Album-02124311710328.
- ^ "Adele (3) – Rolling In The Deep at Discogs". Discogs.com. http://www.discogs.com/Adele-Rolling-In-The-Deep/release/2595000.
