John Lurie (actor, musician, visual artist) solidified this trio (The John Lurie National Orchestra) during his years touring and recording with The Lounge Lizards in the early 1990's. Lurie says, 'The three of us got together to try and write stuff for the Lounge Lizards but what happened was magical. After about a year of playing live it really came together and I don t think there is anything like it.' Billy Martin adds, 'John and I share the idea that this is like someone discovered a field recording of some lost civilization. Some strange and beautiful tribe unlike any other known to man.' Most of Invention of Animals is a compilation of recordings during that period of extensive touring and recording for Fishing with John.