The Invisible – Rispah

The untimely death of front-man Dave Okumu's mother massively informs the making of Rispah (the title being his mother's first name) and lush meditations on the theme of mortality thread the whole album together. The songs, however, collectively assume a more pensive tone, precisely perched on the borderline between the polar opposites of despair and inspiration. Akin to a more percussive and modish Kid A, the record is also full of nods to African gospel music, with the evangelical whoops of the barren but beautiful opener A Particle of Love and the spiritual electric ragga of What Happened being prime highlights.

 

Where The Invisible and their music have in the past exerted a hip 'lads of London' persona, Rispah feels completely serious and is sincere in its message. The vapour-like delivery of the mantra 'the lifeline only comes when you're on the verge of drowning' is a sage interpretation of Okumu's own personal grief.