Best Record Sleeves: March
Releases from Firecracker Recordings, Ghostly Intl, Emotional Response and Desire feature in this month’s selections.
Art and design for records can go beyond a screen printed sleeve sometimes, with a chosen visual theme encompassing inserts, inner sleeves and more which perhaps gets lost in the constraints of the online world. Last month there were numerous examples of this extensive approach with the latest Recollection GRM release the one that really stood out. Embossed patterns on the sleeves combined with a printed insert made Jean-Claude Risset’s Music From Computer quite the distinctive record, and Stephen O’ Malley has maintained a visual theme for all releases on the archival-focused Editions Mego node. I’m not ashamed to admit some embarrassment at his work for the series not being featured previously in this column.
Being a slavish record hoarder himself, Stuart Leath tends to ensure no expense is spared in the presentation of the records released through the various strands of his Emotional label empire. The Human Capabilities album from Alessio ‘Not Waving’ Natalizia for Emotional Response was a case in point, mixing photography and imagery from the artist himself with some typically bold design work from the label’s regular creative partner Say Yes Studio. HTRK’s Jonnine Standish also showcased her creative side in overseeing the concept and design of new LP Psychic 9-5 Club, which adapted and played with the core imagery of the record cover’s painting by Ben Maitland throughout the album’s packaging.
It’s never a surprise to see a record from The Trilogy Tapes included here, such is the strength and consistency of Will Bankhead’s visual curation. The label’s latest release from Minor Science did however provide some insight into how long Bankhead spends cultivating his designs with the cover photo first appearing on The Trilogy Tapes blog in rough draft format over a year ago. Equally Guy Featherstone’s work for Diagonal Records continues to impress and his efforts for the reissue of Streetwalker’s Ooze should be applauded for adapting the low-budget horror artwork of the original Catholic Tapes release to the patterned themes that run through much of the label’s artwork. The moment your eyes focus on the names Beau and Elon amidst the dots makes for a nice touch too. Ryan Ilano’s illustrations and design for Anthony Parasole’s label The Corner have also featured in this column previously due to the fact they help evoke the gritty nature of the music and indeed the city both Ilano and Parasole reside in, with his contribution to the X-Crashed record from Adam X another compelling example.
Last summer, the Wrong Island Communications label founded by London dwelling Glaswegian Teamy debuted in impressive fashion with a record from M|O|O|N, the young Boston-based producer with a famous uncle (Google it) which was made all the more memorable for the black and white photo which was open to interpretation that adorned the sleeve. The label has just issued some more M|O|O|N complemented by a cover image from local Boston photographer Oskar Malone which is equally thought provoking in it’s simplicity. Another example of using simpler means to achieve the desired eye-catching effect was on the debut release from JBLA, Stuart Argabright’s latest musical endeavour with Julian Jöckel, Michael Langeder, and Bernardo Risquez. Issued via French label Desire, the Belleville EP brandished a covering photograph of a misty horizon somewhere in Morocco which complemented the foggy mystique of the music within.
Edinburgh’s Firecracker Recordings took their time in releasing Panoram’s debut album Everyone Is A Door and whilst there hasn’t been an official explanation for the delay, it may be down to them trying to locate a manufacturer that can deliver a heavyweight sleeve that would stop bullets, which they eventually did. Pictures don’t really do justice to how thick the sleeves for Everyone Is A Door are, though you should be able to appreciate the screen-printed artwork from Lindsay Todd that adorns them.
Tony Poland
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