The Invisible

The second album from Mercury Prize-nominated trio the Invisible, Rispah is a spiritual and transformative journey undertaken after the death of singer/guitarist Dave Okumu's mother. The sublimity of the album is quite a departure from their self-titled debut, released in 2009, and as Okumu puts it, Rispah is "a love letter to grief." The album quickly builds a lush soundscape that seeks to envelop its audience in gossamer atmospheres, with the percussive genius of Leo Taylor always providing the finishing cohesion. It's clear that Radiohead are an obvious influence, as the album has definite leanings towards Kid A, and to a lesser extent, the subtleties that permeate Caribou's Swim have made a mark. For all of its tangible beauty, however, the Invisible's sophomore effort can't break free of the monotonous current weaved throughout its entirety. With far too little variation in its makeup, Rispah's ethereal flourishes could stand a bit of a punch-up to keep from waning.