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After a nearly three year absence, U2 made a triumphant return last year with the Golden Globe-winning, Oscar-nominated song ‘Ordinary Love’, a tribute to Nelson Mandela which accompanied the film Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom. Now, as the band readies their much anticipated new album (which will be their first studio release since 2009’s No Line on the Horizon), the group has unveiled a new single to whet our appetite.
Produced by Danger Mouse, ‘Invisible’ was released to support the charity (RED), which U2 front man Bono co-founded to help fight AIDS. The track was initially made available as a free download on iTunes for a 24 hours period with Bank of America donating $1 per download to the charity, before going on sale with proceeds being donated to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.
The electronic-tinged ditty doesn’t wander too far from the band’s established sound, but bears enough interesting touches to feel fresh. Beginning with a Joy Division/New Order reminiscent intro before giving way to crisp guitars that bellow The Edge’s unmistakable signature style, ‘Invisible’ sees Bono singing about self-worth and unity. The song is perhaps a tad safe, but also effortlessly sublime and it grows on you with each spin.
There might not be anything dramatically different or groundbreaking about ‘Invisible’, but it will certainly appeal to U2 fans, even if it doesn’t win over their detractors. Plus, it does have a positive cause attached to it and has raised over $3 million within days of its release, and that’s a distinction that very few songs will ever achieve!
- By Sameen Amer
Instep Today, The News - 7th February, 2014 *
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