bradshaw's' album covers
TRANSCRIPT
We were recently introduced to an ar:st who has worked and lived in the music industry and previously held a great talent in the industry. Simon Bradshaw has witnessed and experienced many different aspects of the music industry and soon my class and I are going to have a Skype call with him by throwing as many ques:ons and queries as we can at him. In this presenta:on, I have annotated my thoughts and analysed Bradshaw’s covers with the inten:on of the Skype call in mind. By analysing and annota:ng Bradshaw's albums, I liked guessing and assuming ideas, however, I am longing to know the answers to my ques:ons regarding the ideas and thoughts behind the crea:ons of these interes:ng album covers. For example, these are some of my ques:ons I noted:
Simon Bradshaw -‐ Skype Call
-‐ What were you inspired by? -‐ How did you generate your ideas? -‐ Which was your favourite cover? -‐ How did you get into your career? -‐ Which album was the most successful? -‐ Could you compare yourself to any bands? -‐ As I found ‘Test Card’ the most interes:ng cover, what was your ideas behind designing
this?
marlowe -‐ “it's turning me on" debut EP -‐ Primarily, from observing Marlowe, the strong
emphasis of the colour red spills out of the cover, making it an successful opening and instant eye catching feature. This bold colour can create a mysteries seduc:on towards connota:ons of the band.
-‐ When viewing the album, I rapidly no:ced no band
member feature on the front of cover; instead, a hand drawn image. This could suggest the act being organic as they care more about their music then their star image. It also leaves viewers ques:oning the ar:st, considering their appearance and gender.
-‐ Similarly, the dated image looks comparable to a
comic drawing and shows a women vulnerably posi:oning herself forward, perhaps becoming sugges:ve to the audience. The character is also puSng on red lips:ck and is revealing her leg, this can communicate subtle themes of danger through conna:on's of the colour red.
-‐ Another immediate feature one no:ces is the use of
no capital leTers on the cover. The braving band has diverted to stereotypical text used on a sleeve. This suggests the band are slightly different and are not afraid to make unusual or bold decisions, however the typography does not stand out to the audience.
Bradshaw has featured in various different bands through the years under opposed names. However, marlowe was Bradshaw’s first album cover and surprisingly his most successful sleeve. The first of Bradshaw’s album is an EP, meaning and extended play. The band have have made some mature, bold, strong and brave choices for their first album. For instance, usually a bands first releases are played reasonably safe and low key due to risk of success or failure, however marlowe fell confident with their choices. The use of the strong, bold and burning red colour, also the use of imagery chosen on the front of the sleeve; doesn't’t feature themselves. Lastly, the use of typography highlights this as no capitals leTers are used, instantly making it difficult for viewers to remember the band and their iden:ty.
marlowe -‐ “darksparklecorner” -‐ We immediately no:ce this album doesn’t include
an image of the band nor any hints to who the band are, which again leaves us asking ques:ons. However, we are made to focus on the bold, polarised snapshot of a young startled child, repeatedly following an unusual and mysterious cover. Immediately this makes the viewer feel a sense of discomfort and unease. The alarming imagery used could mirror the style of music.
-‐ The use of lower case leTers, small font sizes and the deep blush of red is presented on both albums, sugges:ng a repe::ve theme or link between albums.
-‐ Similarly the typography used is ambiguous as one
world ques:on why there is no spaces between the usage of the words.
Darksparklecorner is marlowe’s first official album but their second release. From viewing both “it’s turning me on” and “darksparklecorner” I feel both album covers share interest in alterna:ve ideas and possibly share fascina:on in indie aspect through the use of mysterious imagery and unusual typography. This could hint ideas of the band consis:ng of alterna:ve/indie rock, although it is hard to guess.
marlowe -‐ “a day in july” -‐ I recognise firstly, the consistent similarity between
typography between both previous albums as well as this one; including the same font, similar colours and lower case leTers, showing a link. However, the size of the :tle and ‘marlowe’ has increased and doesn't’t follow the same red theme, instead white. This could imply the band have grown since the first two albums and become more recognised, purposely making their name more clear.
-‐ The main feature I no:ced was the change of mood between imagery on the front of the sleeve. For instance, the previous two albums have followed a similar murky and deep image, although ‘a day in july’ uses brighter, scenic views of mountains, sugges:ng the sounds of this album are lighter and cheerful. However, the image s:ll looks dated and has no image of the band. These signs force us to believe the band follow traits of an organic act.
-‐ From these changes in the third album, ques:ons
and queries are star:ng to appear in prepara:on for the Skype call.
-‐ It is also making me ques:on the target audience.
This album was the bands second official album. As the band con:nued by crea:ng a third album, the previous two sleeves obviously held a success, however this album has slight changes and differen:ates from the others, which could represent a change?
marlowe -‐ “deep breathe fake air” -‐ This cover par:cularly contrasts from the other
albums. For example, the imagery on this album falls into the category of being more ar:ficial as it is an illustrated coloured drawing and introduces new colours of blues and tones of greens to the audience; this could reveal the band are further changing and progressively changing. Also, the image of the scien:fic diagram shown feels more futuris:c and more thought out. This could suggest the sounds in this album are more intellectual, personal and modern response. Again, no appearance of the band is shown; by the third album, usually the audience wants some indica:on of what the band/ar:st looks like a connec:on to the ar:st/band.
-‐ The text is similarly prin:ng the words marlowe,
however it is presented even larger and greater then last :me, hin:ng growth. Although the red coloured theme and the font has remained the same, the bold :tle of colour has altered to black.
-‐ Equivalently, the :tle ‘deep breathe fake air” might
confuse viewers as it doesn’t read easily and isn't a normal English phrase or :tle, this could imply the further ideas of ar:ficial sounds or subjects. However, personally this is my favourite cover.
The third official album made with the band marlowe was, ‘deep breathe fake air.’ This album also separated itself from the other sleeves as it use different, unique conven:ons, yet s:ll holds similar curious imagery.
TESTCARD -‐ “Lines” -‐ The colour scheme, font and style
has changed. For instance, the use of a grey scale is forced on this sleeve and ironically the use of capital leTers are introduced. Although this cover is basic and minimalis:c, it is very aesthe:cally pleasing to viewers. I am also mostly intrigued by the idea behind this cover.
-‐ The smooth and straigh^orward
album cover could suggest the music in this album follows a chilled vibe, maybe hindering indie rock or alterna:ve genres or even indie acous:c.
This album ‘Lines’ follows a completely different theme and style and has an altered name, this could suggest the band has changed their name and style or Simon Bradshaw has joined or created a new band. Ideas spring sugges:ng maybe the previous albums weren't as successful so they had to change their look to catch a new audience. However, I will wait un:l the Skype call to find out my intriguing ques:ons about reasons and ideas for changes, such as Testcard.
ROJA -‐ “Promises I Should Have Kept” -‐ On the last album, there is s:ll no sign or
indica:on to the band members. Therefore viewers can clearly tell the band is an organic act who are more interested and focused on their music their star image, following Negus’ theory. Instead the front of the sleeve is filled with aspects of foreign hand drawn imagery, including a slight humorous response of a very detailed and dated drawing. This could suggest the music is light and personal but with a La:n/ Spanish rock twist.
-‐ The text has been altered for this sleeve as the
font and size are different. The only use of colour is in the :tle ‘ROJA’ making it stand out, this could suggest ‘ROJA’ is an important feature in this album.
-‐ This is my least favourite album personally I don’t
think it appeals to people of my age, however the older genera:on might appreciate it more.
The album ROJA diverts from similar styles, :tles, and themes to the previous albums, therefore I assume Bradshaw joined or created another band. This album created by ROJA follows themes of cultural elements. For example, as well as the imagery consis:ng of foreign subjects, ‘ROJA’ translates to Red in Spanish.