iphone app

iPhone app out for our album and awards nominees:)
http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/songlines-music-awards-2010/id363133620?mt=8

4* Review In The Times

4 Star Review in The Times
March 2010 : Clive Davis

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/cd_reviews/article7074981.ece

The untimely death of the broadcaster Charlie Gillett — “Mr World Music” — has left a hole. But if we are going to miss his annual pre-Womad compilation, Simon Broughton’s magazine goes some way to filling the gap. While Latin America is under-represented in the poll, Lusophiles will be glad to see the Cape Verdean diva Lura and the quirky fado-and-beyond newcomers Deolinda. Is the debut album by the disabled Congolese band Staff Benda Bilili really as interesting as the inspiring streets-of-Kinshasa back story? I’m not sure. Still, fascinating work from Faiz Ali Faiz, Mamer and the Ethio-dub project Invisible System, to name a few, should keep you occupied while you mull that one over. Songlines SPLCD003

Our World Music Awards Album just went no.1 in the ITunes World Music Charts:)

Our World Music Awards Album just went no.1 in the ITunes World Music Charts:)

IS Radio Progs Coming

Radio progs coming for Invisible System and other Songlines World Music Awards nominees - World on 3 BBC3 this Friday, Ross Allen Ministry of Sound on Monday and BBC Late Junction. Reviews also coming up in the papers:)

http://www.music-news.com/ShowNews.asp?nItemID=33261

http://www.music-news.com/ShowNews.asp?nItemID=33261

World Music Awards - We are in finals under Best Newcomer + CD Release

World Music Awards - We are in finals under Best Newcomer + CD new http://www.musicweek.com/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=1040471&c=1

World Music Awards - Songlines - Invisible System nominated into finals as Best Newcomer - CD Released

World Music Awards - Songlines - Invisible System nominated into finals as Best Newcomer - CD Released this Monday of all nominees via HMV, BBC etc

PRESS RELEASE

SONGLINES MUSIC AWARDS 2010 COMPILATION ALBUM

Release date: Monday 22nd March 2010
(SPLCD003. Distribution through Proper Music)

Songlines magazine will be releasing a 16-track album, featuring all nominated artists in the Songlines Music Awards 2010, on Monday 22nd March. This follows the announcement of the nominees on BBC Radio 3’s ‘World on 3’ on Friday 19th March.
The list of nominations is embargoed until Friday 19th March.

Track listing:

1. Goran Bregovic 'Gas Gas Gas'
2. Oumou Sangaré 'Seya'
3. Deolinda 'Movimento Perpétuo Associativo'
4. Speed Caravan 'Qat Market'
5. Lura 'Maria'
6. Staff Benda Bilili 'Moziki'
7. Justin Adams & Juldeh Camara 'Banjul Girl'
8. Tinariwen 'Tahult In'
9. Mamer 'Mountain Wind'
10. Invisible System 'Yeteleye Fikir: Love In Harar'
11. Stockholm Lisboa Project 'Näverbiten. Corpo Aceso'
12. Shooglenifty 'The Vague Rant'
13. Bassekou Kouyaté & Ngoni ba 'I Speak Fula'
14. Transglobal Underground 'Mera Jhumka'
15. Gypsy Groovz Orchestra Goes TuttiMundi 'Hot Water Festival - Part 5'
16. Faiz Ali Faiz & Titi Robin 'Mast Qualandar - Khiraj Aqeedat'

Compilation album released this week

With us on, info to come;)

New Website Up For Invisible System

New Invisible System / Harper Diabate website up :)
http://www.harperdiabate.com/

Intersting article on the background of the awards we are entered into http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/mar/21/radio3-world-music-awards

Intersting article on the background of the awards we are entered into
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/mar/21/radio3-world-music-awards

World Music Awards

We are in the Songlines World Music Awards for outstanding talent in... finalists and winners announced soon :)

Punt on Spotify

You can hear Punt in full on Spotify now - albeit in crud mp3 compression unless you pay to join then it gets higher (but mp3 higher) and you don't get the lovely album art either:)

Best albums of the decade! We got no.56! http://www.bscreview.com/2009/12/best-albums-of-the-decade-59-50/

Best albums of the decade! We got no.56! http://www.bscreview.com/2009/12/best-albums-of-the-decade-59-50/

Invisible System on BBC Radio Scotland tomorrow and London catchup iplayer

Invisible System on BBC Radio Scotland tomorrow with Mary Anne Kennedy http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00p6vhw

3rd of emissions with DJ Ritu on BBC London Radio also available on iplayer

Old Invisible System Jesus Jones remix for free download on theire website

Old Invisible System Jesus Jones remix for free download on there site http://www.jesusjones.com/cvremixes/index.php

It was made in the back on a landrover on a laptop on 36 hour journeys around the rural remote rough roads of Ethiopia! :)

More updates

5 star reviews e.g. Financial Times and www.LAsThePlace.com
4 star reviews e.g. Rock N Reel / R2 Magazine, World Music Network, www.allmusic.com (itunes), altsounds.com, fRoots etc

‘sturdy Ethiopian vocals are matched against backing that veers from wailing
psychedelic rock to trance, trip-hop and dub, it's an impressive achievement.’
- The Guardian, Robin Denselow

'New rave goes global. The rave crowd may love such deranged energy.' - Uncut, Nigel Williamson

‘some of the album’s tracks have a brooding intensity which make them as
compelling as anything I’ve heard this year ‘- Songlines, Howard Male

‘you can imagine this becoming a mind blowing rave classic, pushing the envelope
beyond Ethiopqiues nostalgia.’ - MOJO, David Hutchenson

‘there are moments of electrifying mystique’ - Fly Global, Tim Woodall

’there's a pleasing headiness to its rough charm’ - The Independent, Andy Gill

‘a startlingly original combination of Ethiopian roots and pop with dub, electronica
and psychedelic rock’ - fRoots, Jamie Renton

‘this wonderfully strange and slightly otherworldly album’ refuses resolutely to be pigeon holed. One of the most startlingly original musical adventures of the year giving a whole new meaning to the term ‘fusion music’. - R2 / rock N Reel, Dave Haslam

‘like an exotic mythology flung into outer space‘ - World Music Network, TJ Nelson

‘an unhinged sense that anything could happen, it grows with each listen’ - fRoots, Jamie Renton

'it's clear that Harper is led by his compassion. He's managed to illustrate the process of identification between an English sound and the music of this African nation. Ethiopia is generally considered the jumping off point of human migration. A starting line for mans expansion. With "Punt," Invisible System has managed to bring us all back home.' 'USA - 8/10 www.altsounds.com

‘It’s an album that, to its credit, solidly defies easy description. It needs to be heard several times and each reveals a new delight’ - AllMusic.com, Chris Nickson

‘Each time you hear the songs, you hear something different as this will be the longevity of this world class fusion CD’ - LAsThePlace.com, Los Angeles

'The DIY feel of the arrangements suits the brooding other-wroldliness of the Ethiopian vocals far better than many more expensive productions.' - The Telegraph, Mark Hudson

'I encourage everyone to check it out, but not try to capture it..just feel it.' - Max Benkole Jarrett, BBC World Service

‘Brings together a fine mix of musicians to create a festive-sounding album recorded in Ethiopia’ – New Internationalist

Live Review

A recent review wrote : HYPERLINK "http://www.africanews.com/site/list_messages/18360" \t "_blank" http://www.africanews.com/site/list_messages/18360
Posted on Tuesday 20 May 2008 - 06:27
Congratulations to the organizers of the 7th Ethiopian Music Festival, which was a resounding success and brought great sounds to Addis Abeba. The only show I caught, due to overload, was Dan Harper. His work is astounding, bringing together house/techno beats both slow and fast with beautiful Ethiopian singers singing traditional songs and melodies to ride over his beats. World fusion taken to another level and maybe another musical revolution in the making? Definitely a memorable night.

Keep forgetting I have this - updates

Invisible System Radio Prague interview in English (!) and Radio New Zealand interview both on www.harperdiabate.com
click on interview link

Also interview from Ethiopian USA based magazine

Uncut Review + more this month + BBC6 airplay

October 2009

Uncut Magazine– Nigel Williamson
New rave goes global….
Taking ethnic music recorded in Addis Ababa and layering it with western psych/trance/techno/dance vibes is a risky enterprise-but having spent almost a decade as an aid worker in Africa Dan Harper is better placed than most to try. To the thrilling voices of Ethiopian main star Mahmoud Ahmed and others, he’s added Transglobal Underground/Ozric Tentacles-style synths, Cpt Sensible’s dubby bass, Just Adams’best Steve Hillage imitation and Mali’s Juldeh Camara sawing away on his eerie one-string fiddle. At times it all sounds a little too frenetic, but the rave crowd may love such deranged energy.

Rock N Reel / R2 Magazine - October 2009
Having spent several years in Africa as an aid worker, musician and producer Dan Harper (aka Invisible System), was uniquely qualified when it came to the creation of this wonderfully strange and slightly otherworldly album. Punt is a remarkable musical melting pot that crosses continents, cultures and musical genres and in doing so gives birth to something that, with its blend of Ethiopian music, dub, trance, pop, electronica, rock and psychedelia refuses resolutely to be pigeon holed. Created with the assistance of an eclectic collection of musicians from bands as diverse as Ozric Tentacles, Robert Plant, Zion Train, Loop Guru, Baka Beyond, The Mission, Transglobal Underground and Baaba Maal, Punt is truly innovative. Recorded at Harper’s mobile Worm Hole Studio in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia it features some of that country’s finest including legendary singer Mahmoud Ahmed together with pianist Samuel Yirga Miyiku, saxophonist Feleke Hailu Woldemariam and singers Tsedenia Gebremarkos Woldesilassie and Sintayehu Zenebe who last year collaborated with Harper on Count Dubullah’s Dub Colossus project, A Town Called Addis. One of the most startlingly original musical adventures of the year Punt seamlessly knits together these diverse threads and in doing so gives a whole new meaning to the term ‘fusion music’.
Dave Haslam

Itunes Review
www.allmusic.com - 4 stars

Review by Chris Nickson
Reviews for Invisible System have referenced Dub Colossus, and that's understandable, since they both use Ethiopian music as a starting point. The difference is that Dan Harper, the man behind Invisible System, uses real musicians -- even if they're not recorded at the same time or even on the same continent. As an aid worker in Ethiopia, he came to know Ethiopians, their music and musicians, recording them in his studio. It's what happened later that makes Punt: Made in Ethiopia so different. Home in England, he recorded other musicians -- quite a crew, including the likes of Justin Adams and Juldeh Camara. But they're simply the equals of the Ethiopians, such as Destra Fikra and Mahmoud Ahmed, whose "Melkam Kehonelish" is a highlight, with his absolutely world-class voice a standout. The vision behind everything is Harper's, and the tracks cover a highly atmospheric range, with beats from Dubulah. But its heart is in the Horn of Africa, even when Captain Sensible is adding wild guitar to the closer, "Dankira." It's an album that, to its credit, solidly defies easy description -- here it rocks out, there it lifts high into the air, sometimes there are jazzy touches and pieces that wouldn't sound out of place on a global dancefloor. More than that, it's a record that doesn't show all its colors at once; it needs to be heard several times to peel away the layers, and each time reveals a new delight. It's world music in the very best sense -- not ethnic, but accessible, heartfelt, and a constant pleasure.

Invisible System has also recently been played by Gideon Coe on BBC6 Music alongside Madness and Blamanche etc which really cheered me up as I have never really seen it as 'world music' - not that I really understand that term anyway as we all live in the world and play music... But my love of other forms of music, and wish of people who listen to club, dub and rock music to explore world music and vice versa comes over in this album and my nature so BBC6 airplay is great! Thanks Gideon...

The Telegraph today (Sat 5th Sept)
'Self-financed by a former aid worker, this Ethiopian dub project follows the "Africa Express" format, teaming Addis Ababa icons - notably the great crooner Mahmoud Ahmed - with indie micro-celebrities, Captain Sensible being the best known. The DIY feel of the arrangements suits the brooding other-wroldliness of the Ethiopian vocals far better than many more expensive productions.'
Mark Hudson

MOJO (this month)
Dan Harper, who facilitated last year's Town Called Addis project, here encourages Ethiopia's musicians to push the envelope beyond the nostalgia of the Ethiopiques series. There's a darkness in some of the deeper explorations of electronica and dance, yet the African musicians seize their chance with enthusiasm. You can imagine this becoming a mindblowing rave classic.

New Internationalist
Brings together a fine mix of musicians - Justin Adams, Dubulah, Juldeh Camara and members of the Ethiopiques - and some surprising ones (Captain Sensible?) to create a festive-sounding album recorded in Ethiopia

Max Bankole Jarrett
Former DJ/Presenter and Producer of the Jive Zone weekly music show on the BBC World Service for Africa (1992-1998) + Focus on Africa Producer, now working in Ethiopia

Alan Watts once said (about religion): "If you try to capture running water in a bucket it is clear that you do not understand it and that you will always be disappointed. To have running water you must let go of it and let it run". In my view, the same is true of music and this album. I encourage everyone to check it out, but not try to capture it..just feel it. Also, be aware that just as there is the right time and place for different experiences, the same is true of music. Example: just because I don't listen to my Miles Davis "In a Silent Way" cd as soon as I wake up or when I am working out in the gym that doesn't make it a difficult or too complex album. It just is not meant to be married with those experiences. The same is true with Punt. You have to approach it correctly. And once you do, you will be blown away. As I recently told Dan, the perfect time to hear "Punt" , here in Addis Ababa where I live, is at that special time of the day when dusk turns to night, preferably in a car with a pumping soundsystem.

Very late update, reviews

To be honest I have not used this blog to date as there are so many to keep up to date.  The facebook page and group is up to date, as is the myspace - well nearly!  But to summarise the amazing press response to date on the album :

5 star reviews e.g. The Financial Times, www.LAsThePlace.com etc

4 star reivews e.g. World Music Network, www.allmusic.com, Rock N Reel / R2 magazine etc

Review Quotes e.g.

‘sturdy Ethiopian vocals are matched against backing that veers from wailing 

psychedelic rock to trance, trip-hop and dub, it's an impressive achievement.’ 

- The Guardian, Robin Denselow

‘some of the album’s tracks have a brooding intensity which make them as 

compelling as anything I’ve heard this year ‘- Songlines, Howard Male

‘you can imagine this becoming a mind blowing rave classic, pushing the envelope

 beyond Ethiopqiues nostalgia.’ - MOJO, David Hutchenson

‘there are moments of electrifying mystique’  - Fly Global, Tim Woodall

’there's a pleasing headiness to its rough charm’ - The Independent, Andy Gill

‘a startlingly original combination of Ethiopian roots and pop with dub, electronica

and psychedelic rock’ - fRoots, Jamie Renton

‘this wonderfully strange and slightly otherworldly album’ refuses resolutely to be pigeon holed. One of the most startlingly original musical adventures of the year giving a whole new meaning to the term ‘fusion music’. - R2 / rock N Reel, Dave Haslam

‘like an exotic mythology flung into outer space‘ - World Music Network, TJ Nelson

‘an unhinged sense that anything could happen, it grows with each listen’ - fRoots, Jamie Renton

‘It’s an album that, to its credit, solidly defies easy description.  It needs to be heard several times and each reveals a new delight’ - AllMusic.com, Chris Nickson

‘Each time you hear the songs, you hear something different as this will be the longevity of this world class fusion CD’ - LAsThePlace.com, Los Angeles 

Ethiopia Fusion Album Released with special guests

INVISIBLE SYSTEM : PUNT – made in Ethiopia It is a very exciting and original project with an incredible story behind its making. It origins and aims are much wider than the music. Sales Notes, New Album: Invisible System present a 12 track fusion album of Ethiopian, Dub, Dance, Rock, Drum & Bass, Psychedelia, Trance, Electronica & live music. Traditional vocals / instruments meet the modern, electronic and brass. Live Europeans meet live Ethiopians. Our guests include: Mamoud Ahmed & Bahta Gebrehiwot (Ethiopiques) Hilaire Shabby (Baba Maal) Justin Adams (Robert Plant & Strange Sensation, ex Jah Wobble's Invaders) Tsedenia, Mimi, Tarmeg & Sami (Ethiopians since this album signed to Realworld Records) Joie Hinton (ex-Eat Static & Ozric Tentacles / Here and Now / IGV) Martin Cradick (Baka Beyond/ex-Outback) Captain Sensible (The Damned) Ed Wynne (Ozric Tentacles / Noden Inctus) Simon Hinkler (ex-The Mission) Dubulah (ex-Transglobal Underground, Temple of Sound, Natasha Atlas etc) Perch (Zion Train) Juldeh (Justin Adams, Realworld etc) Elmer Thudd (ex-Loop Guru) Gary Woodhouse (The Rhythmites) Bos (ex-Junk Waffle and Warp Graf/Eat Static Artist) Artist Profile: Invisible System is the brain child of Dan Harper who spent 8 years aid working in Mali and Ethiopia, producing music in-between. He has co-written, sound engineered, loaned his singers and musicians to and played on A Town Called Addis by Dub Colossus on Realworld Records, an album that followed the recording of this album, PUNT Made in Ethiopia. Dub Colossus was made with Nick Page / Dubulah from Transglobal Underground/Temple of Sound/Natasha Atlas etc. One of the tracks Dan co-wrote and played on/engineered was also featured on the CD & DVD from the BBC series Long Way Down (Ewan McGregor and his friend traveling through Africa on motorbikes, including Ethiopia). Realworld took on the album post Dan inviting Nick Page/Dubulah to come and stay at his house and studio in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where they recorded the album in Dan’s Worm Hole Studios (the studio Dan built that follows him around the world changing form as to where it is based e.g. a third world country or Frome in Somerset). Worm Hole’s equipment can be setup around scarce resources such as in an outhouse with corrugated iron roofing (interesting in the rainy season), carpets and breeze blocks. It is also now constructed in a more solid form in Frome, Somerset whilst maintaining it’s DIY, nomadic and professional feel and look. Dan introduced Nick Page/Dubulah to the musicians and friends he had met and worked with whilst living in Addis for 3 years who also feature on this album Punt, as do many other Ethiopian musicians including their main star and BBC3 World Music Award Winner Mamoud Ahmed of the Ethiopique series. Invisible System played at the Ethiopian Music Festival, Addis Ababa last year and plan to do the same in 2009 if funding comes back around. We also hope to play some festivals such as Womad if it comes together and visas etc are sorted and we secure booking. Also we have been playing live in the UK with Dennis Wint (Jamaican born singer from the UK reggae band The Rhythmites) on vocals. We played last year using this line up on the main stage, Endorset Festival as well as supporting Dreadzone with Dennis on vocals. Merv Pepler from Eat Static / Ozric Tentacles was due to join us for that gig on drums but was ill so we hope to attempt that again this year. We are talking about supporting Zion Train, The Ozric Tentacles etc as well as playing independently at some festivals and venues at present. Reviews: A recent review wrote : http://www.africanews.com/site/list_messages/18360 Posted on Tuesday 20 May 2008 - 06:27 Congratulations to the organizers of the 7th Ethiopian Music Festival, which was a resounding success and brought great sounds to Addis Abeba. The only show I caught, due to overload, was Dan Harper. His work is astounding, bringing together house/techno beats both slow and fast with beautiful Ethiopian singers singing traditional songs and melodies to ride over his beats. World fusion taken to another level and maybe another musical revolution in the making? Definitely a memorable night. More reviews to come as they are written The album is a welcome outcome from years of aid work and the frustrations that come with it. The lack of support for artists and musicians in this world lead to Dan establishing not only Harper Diabate Records and Harper Diabate Ribbon & Valve Microphones but also a charitable arm of the company in an attempt to continue his aid work but aimed at artists and in a less resource wasteful manner. The amount of time and resources used by the aid organization he worked for to fly people around the world to workshops that amount to very little, government lead thought and policy, constant bureaucracy and lack of being out there making a difference was just shocking, disappointing and impossible to combat or change. A contract signed to be out developing volunteer placements and making a difference turned into yet another desk based paper work job getting no-where full of myopia from London and senior management, with outrageous bullying of Ethiopian and programme staff left right and centre. The albums were improvised, from scratch - all instruments and vocals. Improvisation was a largely new concept to most of the Ethiopian counterparts (previously told what or how to play or sing). Dan just went from go with your feelings and express them as Dan had done. The results were stunning both for them and for us. We are not into using Ethiopian (or Malian) samples or trying to quickly learn and imitate Ethiopian musicians who have their sounds, modes, scales, feelings and soul from their culture and country else we would be the neo-colonialists. We are into sharing, learning and exchange over time. As well as the next Ethiopian fusion album with guests for release this year we have another release with Dennis Wint, singer from the UK reggae band The Rhythmites on vocals. We are playing out live so look out for us at clubs and festivals and check the websites for info. We have been playing the Endorset Festival main stage and with Dreadzone to date. Another purely traditional Ethiopian album is also due for release, a second Ethiopian fusion album is on our hard drive (more upbeat), alongside a remix album featuring e.g. Baka Beyond, Zion Train, Jesus Jones, Inverse Gravity Vehicle (Joie Hinton of Eat Static / Ozric Tentacles), Ozric Tentacles, Power Steppers (Molara & Colin ex-Zion Train) etc. Dan spent 3 years in Addis Ababa not 3 weeks, living, working and existing there. Aid working all around the country, producing music based in Addis. He Met people from all walks of life. The music is based on real life experience not from reading. It is played from the heart and soul of everyone involved. Their own interpretation thus tapping the ebbs and flows of our lives. Label Profile: Harper Diabate Records was started in 2008 following the creation of Harper Diabate Microphones in 2007. The label is based in the creative town of Frome, Somerset with founded links to Ethiopia and Mali, Africa. Our aims are to bring innovative, original, underground world, rock, psychedelic, funk, electronic, rnb, trance, drum and bass, dance, dub fusion music with a message consciousness and positive energy to the world whilst being full on in force and amplitude. We also work in international development and the founder has been very involved in African aid work spending 4 years in Mali and 4 years in Ethiopia. We have a charity / social enterprise arm for this work to continue. We work towards musical and cultural exchanges between our countries of residence. Harper Diabate, 1 River Walk, Frome, Somerset, BA11 5HU info@harperdiabate.com : www.myspace.com/invisiblesystem (there are also invisible system and harper diabate groups also on www.facebook.com) http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=40729859663 Hardly used to date also www.myspace.com/harperdiabate Dan Harper : 07515 400362 Extra Notes : We would be very grateful for any exposure of the CD through play, review spreading its release via word of mouth. This is out first release on Harper Diabate. Also we want people to know the story as well as the music and to continue our work in the arts and international development. Dan is always available to talk and to be interviewed. Please let us know of any reviews, air play etc that is scheduled so we can watch, listen, read and enjoy! Any other ideas of who to send copes to always welcome as we need to bridge the divide of all genres that the CD spans through. We very much look forward to releasing the next 5 albums we have on our hard drives and we are looking forward to playing live now as well as returning to Africa to initiate new localised projects when we can secure some funding.