The Invisible Band is the third studio album by Scottish rock band Travis, produced by Nigel Godrich. It was released on 11 June 2001 in the United Kingdom by Independiente and a day later in the United States by Epic Records. Frontman Fran Healy said the title of the album referred to the band's status of having famous songs, but not being famous themselves. It was supported by the release of its lead single, "Sing", which received critical acclaim from music critics and achieved strong chart positions, including reaching the top ten of the national singles charts in France, Scotland, Norway, Ireland and the United Kingdom. The second single, "Side" was released three months following the album in September, and also achieved strong chart positions and acclaim.

A third and final single, "Flowers in the Window", was released in March 2002. The Invisible Band debuted atop the UK Albums Charts where it spent a total of four weeks. Likewise, it debuted atop the Scottish Albums Charts where it remained for six weeks, before returning to the top spot in October. In the United Kingdom, it sold 1.2 million copies, earning it a 4x Platinum certification from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). It also achieved commercial success internationally, reaching the top of the national albums charts in both Norway and Ireland, and reaching the top ten in the likes of Austria, Germany, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland and Italy, whilst in the United States, it peaked at number thirty-nine on the Billboard 200.

Regarded as one of the "era defining" albums of the 2000s, NME described the album as "self-consciously downbeat and rustic". It was ranked by Q was one of the best albums of the year, and its success lead to the band being awarded the Brit Award for British Group for the second time in their career. The album was also nominated for Brit Award for British Album of the Year in 2002, with No Angel by Dido being the eventual winner of the award.

Recording The Invisible Band was recorded at Ocean Way Recording, Los Angeles. It was produced by Nigel Godrich, who also produced the previous Travis record, The Man Who (1999). According to the Travis songwriter, Fran Healy, Godrich arrived for the sessions in a bad mood. Healy said Godrich was frustrated after the gruelling recording sessions for Radiohead's albums Kid A and Amnesiac, and so "took it out on us because he couldn't take it out on Radiohead".

Godrich was strict with Travis and rejected their initial work, which they found dispiriting. Eventually, after a serious argument, the mood settled. Healy felt it was good for Godrich to work with "melodic" bands such as Travis as well as more experimental acts such as Radiohead. The group began to make progress after a session experimenting with unusual instruments such as a tanpura.

Critical reception

At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, The Invisible Band received an average score of 71 based on 17 reviews, which indicates "generally favourable reviews".

Q wrote: "While the wheel remains un-reinvented, The Invisible Band finds its mark with unerring accuracy". While Launch also said of the album, "Songs like the stirring 'Side', the delicate 'Dear Diary', and the glistening 'Follow the Light' are among the best and most fully crafted of Fran Healy's short but accomplished writing career". Q also listed it as one of the best 50 albums of 2001. Track listing

Personnel Adapted from the album liner notes.Information from the album booklet.

Travis Fran Healy – vocals, guitar, piano Dougie Payne – bass guitar Andy Dunlop – guitar, banjo Neil Primrose – drums, percussion

Additional musicians Jason Falkner – keyboards (track 9) Millennia Strings – strings (tracks 1, 11 and 12) Joby Talbot – string arrangement (tracks 1, 11 and 12)

Additional personnel Nigel Godrich – production, mixing Bernie Grundman Mastering – mastering Darrell Thorp – assistant engineer at Ocean Way Studioshttps://www.darrellthorp.com/ Jon Bailey – assistant engineer at Air Studios Steve Orchard – string engineering (tracks 11 and 12)

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2001)PeakpositionEurope (European Top 100 Albums) 2Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)36

Year-end charts Chart (2001)PositionAustralian Albums (ARIA) 72Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) 51Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) 82Danish Albums (Hitlisten) 18Europe (European Top 100 Albums) 19French Albums (SNEP) 145German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) 40Irish Albums (IRMA) 14New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) 48Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) 70Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) 43UK Albums (OCC) 7 Worldwide Albums (IFPI)39 Chart (2002)Position Europe (European Top 100 Albums) 99French Albums (SNEP) 145UK Albums (OCC) 78

Certifications

References