"The Invisible Band" never fails to impress me each time I put it in to play. With every listen, I discover something new about the amazingly deep lyrics of Travis, and I'm left in wonder at the abundantly vivid images portrayed. The music will leave you asking for more, but the 12 tracks present on this album sufficiently whet your appetite. Travis truly are in sparkling form with this release.

This is a very good album to just chill out to after a long and tiring day. It builds up slowly with an array of radio-friendly tunes, and then closes with a series of brooding and deeper ones. You'll be left wondering why the band band chose such a tracklist. On "The Invisible Band", Travis offer a good collection of songs that will appeal to you in different ways, and you'll perceive each one in a new light depending on your mood and when you listen to it.

Instantly Likeable: Sing, Side, Flowers in the Window
Watch Out For: Last Train, Indefinitely, The Humpty Dumpty Love Song

Sing: A great way to kick off the album. This is an instantly recognisable song on the radio. With its simple lyrics, and the flawless guitar-work, you'll wish this song was longer. You'll have the lyrics to the song down by your third or fourth listen in. 8/10

Dear Diary: Sandwiched between two monster radio hits (Sing and Side), Dear Diary is an absolute gem. It is a novel approach from the band, and makes you wonder whether they're making a log of their own experiences (and perhaps calling out for help?). To me, this is a sad song, and again, I was left wishing for more. Why? The song's just a shade under 3 minutes, and with just three "Dear Diary" entries (and thereby the choruses), it certainly is a song to savour. 9/10

Side: I can only find one word to describe this song... "true". Travis observe life, and tell it like it is ("The neighbour's got a new car that you wanna drive"), and the chanting of "side" after each chorus certainly gives the song an "otherworldly" feel. The music video for this song fits in with this theme as it looks at extra-terrestrial life. A good way to build into the bogey track that follows. 9/10

Pipe Dreams: This is perhaps the only song that sometimes has me reaching for the ">>" button, but if you take the time to listen to it, you'll notice the dreamy lyrics (hence, the reference to "pipes" holds true here). The clear ring of the guitar and the crispness of the drums complement the lyrics to this song well, I think. Usually, I'm just impatient, and skip this song to get to Flowers in the Window. 7/10

Flowers in the Window: Perhaps the quintessential track of the album. The lyrics and the music are tailor-made for each other here. This track is an absolute treat for the ears, and is so "happy-go-lucky" that you can't help but smile, and mouth the words. And this is one song that you certainly can't mess the words up... "Wow, look at you now, flowers in the window. It's such a lovely day, and I'm glad you feel the same". See? One of my favourite tracks on the album. You'll definitely have a smile on your face at the end of this song, and you'll look at your daisies and sunflowers in a totally different way after listening to this track. 10/10

The Cage: One of the brooding songs of the album. You can sense the loss and sadness in the lyrics, though the haunting piano and the guitar-strumming that accompany it belie this. I often have a hard time hearing the drumline on this track, but all's good after the first chorus. You'll be wondering sadly at the bird that escaped the cage in the song though. 7/10

Safe: This is one of the songs on the album that I often have a hard time figuring out. I'm often in the following state of mind, "Which track is this? Is it this one or the next?", but all is forgotten after the first chorus when the guitar and drums embrace you warmly. Yet another song with dreamy lyrics. Too much like Pipe Dreams for me. 7/10

Follow the Light: A song with spiritual and uplifting undertones? The ringing tone of the music on this track reverberates in your head. The twang of the guitar just sits in your head, playing to and fro with the lyrics. The "moaning" and "wailing" of the guitar frequently bothers me in this song, but it's just a precursor to the dark song of the album, Last Train. 8/10

Last Train: One of my favourite tracks on the album. You're just waiting for the lyrics to kick in while listening to the guitar at the beginning of the song. This is a great song to just listen to when you're having a horrible day; not because it's a happy song, but because it's NOT. It's more of a dangeous song because of its lyrics ("But if it's all the same to you, here's what I'm gonna do. I'm gonna buy a gun, gonna shoot everything everyone. And then I'm coming for you"), but you could forget all that as the words clearly portray the singer's frustration. He's doing exactly what you're feeling on your bad day ("I'm gonna write a song, gonna sing it to everyone, and then I'll sing it to you 'cos it was you that wrote it too"). Just listen to this song, and you'll know what I mean. This song is the highlight of the album for me. Where Flowers in the Window was the height of happiness and joy, Last Train is the abyss of gloom and despair. A masterpiece in my opinion. 10/10

Afterglow: As is their habit, Travis follow the gloom of the previous track with the twangy happiness of Afterglow. You feel as though a ray of sunshine has made its way through the feelings left behind by Last Train. A very simple song with the lyrics and music, especially the guitar, setting the pace. One of the longer tracks on the album, and one of the more soothing ones. I often get the feeling of "ascension" at the end of the song, because the song just keeps rising higher and higher (into heaven?). Just my opinion. 8/10

Indefinitely: Another favourite of mine. Starts off very slowly, but picks up rapidly with the guitar sadly twanging and then strumming. You'll think this is another sad song from Travis, but that's an illusion. This is one of those songs with lyrics so beautiful that you want to croon them to your loved one. I always feel a pleasant shiver run down my spine entering the third minute of this track. To me, it's perfect, with the repetition of "indefinitely" at the end of the song working wonders (as though you're making a promise to someone you so dearly care about). I absolutely love the end of this track... you hear an alarm clock sounding off, and the frontman (?) waking up, as though from a dream. 10/10

The Humpty Dumpty Love Song: With a title that's so comical, you'd think this track was a joke, but it's anything but that. It exudes a sadness and longing, characterised by the singer's soft whisper, broken by the cry of a baby in the background during the first minute. With the steady beat of the drum keeping time, you're taken in by the sadness of the words. If you've ever experienced heartbreak, you'll relate perfectly with the singer's words and his sense of loss. A sombre way to end an excellent album. 9/10

An excellent album overall. Most people will complain that all the songs sound exactly the same, but you just need to take a listen to each song, and it'll grow on you. Your first listen might be a questioning one, and perhaps your second one too. But on your third listen, you'll have certain favourites emerging, and you'll notice certain songs creeping under your skin. Just give it time, and you'll see.

I love this album, and have been unable to put it down since I got it. The album is full of excellent moments, both high and low. There are dark moments that you'll dearly love to treasure, and there are high moments where you'll just want to burst out into song with the band. I hold Travis in high regard after listening to this album. I've even carefully kept a postcard from their Virgin Radio (?) concert. (Thanks! [you know who you are!])

"The Invisible Band" is a mix of dark and light, sombre and melancholy tunes. The 4 musicians who put out the catchy Flowers in the Window are the same individuals who'll wow you with the touching longing of The Humpty Dumpty Love Song. I highly recommend this album. Just give it a listen, and find out for yourself.

As for the title of this review, I feel that this album is excellent for writers and poets. The vast array of images that are summoned into your mind make you just want to grab your pen and jot down your thoughts into the night.

Thanks for reading, and happy listening!