Invisible Airline

Q-Burns Abstract Message

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 26, 2001)
• Original Release Date: June 26, 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Astralwerks
• ASIN: B00005K9VB
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #69,642 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #19 in	Music > Indie Music > Rap & Hip-Hop > Experimental
  #98 in	Music > Indie Music > Dance & DJ > Techno-House

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Florida DJ and producer Michael Donaldson, a.k.a. Q-Burns Abstract Message, is one American beats and electro artist who rates favorably with the U.K. kingpins of DJ swank. Though his jumble of ideas makes his muse rather indistinguishable, his undeniable melodies and clever production make for a smooth party CD you can program for repeat.

A house-centric record that sounds as if it was made entirely with the same bank of synths and presets, Invisible Airline sticks to the groove but explores crossover pop, blues shouts, bent guitars, and Brazilian bumps within its monotone mold. "Differently" recalls the dark doom of Massive Attack with coiling acoustic bass and ethereal female vocals. Q-Burns adopts a Moby blues twist with the B.B.King cries of "Mother's Dead," then creates buckling Brazilian cacophony on the warped "Asa Nisi Masi." Like "Differently," the rockish "Drifting Off" sounds like a hit single, embellished with rupturing My Bloody Valentine guitars and the vocals of Lisa Shaw.

Like BT's Movement in Still Life, Invisible Airline attempts a pop crossover, but ultimately it arrives at a different, more elusive, and ultimately fulfilling destination. --Ken Micallef

Product Description

Invisible Airlines showcases a new direction for Q-Burns Abstract Message that will appeal to both electronic music buyers as well as to adult-pop leaning buyers. Invisible Airlines features vocals by Lisa Shaw (Naked Music). 12 tracks packaged in a Digipak. 2001 release.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What an incredible album, totally caught me by surprise, August 17, 2001

By	Erica Anderson (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

I wasn't sure what to make of Q-Burns Abstract Message for awhile. I always assumed that his music was inaccessible and more experimental like drum & bass but when I heard "This Time" on this month's current CMJ compilation cd, I automatically knew I had to check out "Invisible Airline". I was mesmorized by Lisa Shaw's stunning vocals and the infectious, sugar-coated melodies of "This Time". Now that I have listened to "Invisible Airline" a couple of times I must say that I was absolutely wrong with my presumptions about Michael Donaldson's music. I would say that his music is a blend of house, hip hop and break beat. I love this cd, especially the songs that Lisa Shaw sings on like "Drifting Off", "This Time" and "Shame". I knew from the moment I heard "This Time" this album would be awesome. It is rare for me to know from one song if an album is going to be great or not and "Invisible Airline" is one of those rare albums with that one song that just suckered me into buying.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars not my cup of tea,but i'll drink it, July 7, 2001

By	"gringomal" (venice, california United States) - See all my reviews

the main reason i dipped into the new q-burns is it has lisa shaw on it,who is one of my favorite house vocalists.i didn't know what to expect really,but i do have to respect that q-burns is truly an innovator.he has so much respect throughout the electronic music scene,as a composer,dj,and collaborator that i knew that if anything,it would be interesting.i'm strictly a deep house cat but this album shows me once again that there are other beautiful genres out there. my fave tracks are the ones with lisa shaw singing,as well as co-writing,but there are some other interesting guests including percussionist eugene snowden,blues man elmo williams and rapper swamburger.the beats on the album are thumpy,maybe a little too electronic for me,but tasty nonetheless,see track one! filled with strange atmosherics,bleeps and gongs the back side of most tracks keeps you guessing.i get warmer to it every time i listen. knowing that cats like q-burns and lisa shaw are doing quality work,and not in just one field just reminds me that the electronic music scene can be just as creative and vibrant as any other type of music. word em up.

5.0 out of 5 stars spandex scissor kick fellatio, August 20, 2005

By	Michael De (St Andrews, Scotland) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This album is tremendous, especially the vocalist whose transcendental voice blesses the other-worldly tracks "Differently" and "Innocent". But I found this album to be quite different stylistically from his previous ones. It's almost like it's not even Q burn. It's like his Doppelganger from Twin Earth. Most people hate that--when an artist changes his style quite a bit from previous releases--but I find it to be a pleasant surprise in this case because the album is excellent in every track. I listened to it daily on my scooter in Taiwan going to hell. It saved me.