By
Adam Pugh
Invisible Airline
(Astralwerks)
Grade: C
In this world of cookie-cutter pop acts and sound-alike Top 40 singles, one would think that a little bit of musical diversity would be a welcome change. Well, not always, apparently.
On its new album Invisible Airline, Q-burns and Abstract Message sounds like Dido on crack one minute and then all at once break into some of the most upbeat dance instrumentals found today. It is hard to tell where this album means to go from one moment to the next, ironically, because of the diversity, its performers - including the raspy blues remix of Elmo Williams' "Mothers Dead" to the very curious flow of rapper Swamburger on "Imprisoned Glitch." Invisible Airline is rounded out by Lisa Shaw's soothing and angelic voice, one that deftly moves between slow inflection and pop-driven rock. The music is pretty good overall but still leaves the listener wondering what in the world they just listened to.
This "group" is seemingly just a collection of individuals, each expressing his/her own musical style. And this is great - normally - but the collaboration makes for an awkward mix. Simply, the pieces just don't fit together. With the lyrical stylings set to a background of drum and bass, the album as a whole gets two thumbs up for trying something new but one can't ignore its lack of continuity.
It is still not clear why producer M. Donaldson gathered each of these people to make this album. Hopefully in the future, he will wise up and stay away.
If you must buy the album, remember that this group is trying to please each listener by using every type of music possible, so you might not like a lot of it.
