The inspiration behind world-fusion collective Invisible System is a British producer, composer and sound engineer, Dan Harper, who spent 8 years in Ethiopia and Mali, as an aid worker and budding musical entrepreneur. The result of Harper’s travels is an array of collaborators and styles as long as your arm which are musically held together with Invisible System’s anger at the failure of large aid organisations to fulfil their raison d’etre in the third world (“Keep fighting for equality and democracy” writes Harper in the CD notes) and a trance-like blend of dub, psychedelia and rock.

Mixed with these edgy sounds are North and East African vocals and a smattering of traditional instruments. As to be expected, the influence of the Ethiopiques series features strongly. Mahmoud Ahmed’s vibrato-drenched voice soars over threatening bass and synths on ‘Melkam Kehonelish’ while a cast of lesser-known Ethiopian vocal talent features during the album, though with varying degrees of success. Desta Fikra’s sensuous voice is an asset throughout but she and fellow vocalist Mimi fail to shine on the oddly stuttering ‘Giba Wedebet’.

It is not only Ethiopian musicians that set the tone of the album however. Juldeh Camara’s ritti swings alongside the reggae riff on opening track ‘Hode Baba’ while British singer/songwriter Captain Sensible adds an impenetrable layer of guitar noise to drum and bass finale ‘Dankira’.

Invisible System is pushing an important agenda in its political activism and although PUNT Made in Ethiopia is patchy and inspirationally stretched in places, there are moments of electrifying mystique and the beginnings of genuine cross-cultural conversations to be found here. Watch this space.

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