The new Brian Eno album (which has beautiful packaging, examples below) reminded me of how aesthetically pleasing his catalog is, so I thought I’d post some of my favorites. The reverse for Discreet Music is probably my favorite; need a poster of that for the studio.
Hard Format has some great shots of and original 12″ sleeve for Kraftwerk’s Autobahn (the brown tape just makes it that much better). This has to be one of my all-time favorite covers; I cut a picture of it out of Rolling Stone and had it on my fridge for years, but if I had this is would be framed in the middle of the room. What are some other great minimalist sleeves? Link them in the comments.
Source Hard Format
Hard Format has some great shots of the die-cut Orchestral Maneuvers In The Dark LP cover. The cover was designed by Ben Kelly and Peter Saville for the Dindisc label. Die-cut is always a good idea and I love the vibrations between these blue and orange shades, something about it absolutely works.
More info here, lots of other great sleeves at Hard Format.
Project Thirty-Three has a great collection of vintage record sleeves up. This kind of minimalist approach to record jacket design is about as close as it gets to perfection for me. I’ve always loved the Blue Note style stuff but this is just a little more what I’m looking for. The simplicity is what really gets me, so much with so little. Wish I had prints of all these, but as a consolation, they make great iPhone backgrounds after a little editing.
Source Project Thirty-Three Via Wanken Blog
Coming across a 100% album isn’t very easy to do. On first listen of Song Cycle, it’s pure perfection blinded me. There’s not a single note I would change or a track I’d skip. Solid gold.
Parks was only 23 when he was asked by Brian Wilson to work on the famed Smile album with him. He pumped out “Heroes and Villains”, “Surf’s Up” (one of the best songs ever written), and many others with Wilson. After leaving the project, he went to write his first solo project Song Cycle at age 25; one of the most expensive albums ever recorded.
Give it a listen, and go buy it. You can get some great 180g analog master pressings on eBay.
[audio:van_dyke_parks-palm_desert.mp3] [audio:van_dyke_parks-all_golden.mp3] [audio:van_dyke_parks-public_domain.mp3]“I should think he’d fade away; the way that bohemians often bare the frigid air.”
Casino Versus Japan - Artwork by S.Hansen
This release will be out on January 5th, 2010 on Moodgadget.
As far as Italian prog goes, PFM are the poster children. I’ve yet to find another group in the genre that makes it so smooth and buttery. The segways between movements (or lack there of, generally) is to die for. This album fails to leave my rotation.
There’s not much to say. The music speaks for itself. There’s quite a few movements, so give it a full listen.
If you’re looking for similar stuff, be sure to check out:
I’ve really been digging back into Midlake’s work since Sam posted the Beyond The Wizard’s Sleeve remix of Roscoe in Playlist 6 (Jakub actually posted it quite a while back but I somehow missed it). This is one of the few rock remixes I actually like more than the original. In this case much more.
It’s been a while since Vanoccupanter, but apparently Midlake have apparently been busy in the years since working on a new album entitled The Courage of Others due out in February of 2010. I was completely bowled over by the new album art, it’s absolutely stunning. After a quick search I turned up a relatively large version at Tuba Records. Might have to fire up the 9900 and run off a copy of that one. Anybody know who designed / shot it?
And here’s one of my favorite Midlake songs, Young Bride from their last album, The Trials of Vanoccupanther. The bass is incredible on this one; I love that driving style. I keep wanting it to go to this place but it never does and I think that’s what makes it perfect.
[audio:https://blog.iso50.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/midlake-youngbride.mp3]
Cover by S.Hansen
“This playlist is beats-heavy, they feel right for uncertain times.
There’s also a tip of the hat to some 90’s nostalgia: a hint of Drum &
Bass and filtered House thrown in for good measure. All in all, it’s
a set of listenable wares, without a lot of tire spikes to get caught
on.”
So sit back and enjoy… And if you like what you hear, let us know in the comments.
Playlist 6 – Compiled By Sam Valenti IV
Click to Play, or use player at top of middle column.
Track Listing:
Phantogram – When I’m Small (Barsuk/BBE)
Memory Tapes- Run Out (HSR)
Zomby – Digital Flora (Ramp)
The Go Find – Over The Edge (Morr Music)
Omni Trio – Skeleton Keys (Omni Trio Remix) (Moving Shadow)
A Mountain Of One – Freefall (10 Worlds)
Lali Puna – Clearcut (Arovane Remix) (Morr Music)
Syntaks – Buio Omega (Ghostly)
CFCF – Letters Home (Paper Bag)
Paul White – The Punch Drummer (One-Handed Music)
Bear In Heaven – Ultimate Satisfaction (Home Tapes)
Midlake – Roscoe (Beyond The Wizard’s Sleeve Remix) (Bella Union)
BGM – 900X (Asthmatic Kitty)
Mux Mool – 1st and 4th (Ghostly/Moodgadget)
Grizzly Bear – While You Wait For The Others (Warp)
DJ Q- We Are One (Filter)
Dominik Eulberg – Daten-Uebertragungs-Kuesschen (Sistema Remix) (Traum)
Saint Etienne – The Place At Dawn (Sub Pop)
Update: The 12″ is now available for Pre-Order at the ISO50 Shop.
The new Tycho single, Coastal Brake, is finally all set for release. Above you can see the 12″ vinyl cover art including the reverse and stickers. There is also a limited edition poster with alternate artwork folded into each vinyl sleeve — I’ll post more on that and the process of creating the artwork as we get closer to the release date.
I got the finished vinyl in the other day and they look great — I’ll post up some pics next week. The official release date for the vinyl and digital is December 8th but we will be taking pre-orders starting November 2nd at The ISO50 Shop. I’ll be posting more details as the become available. | Comment on this post
Update: apparently you can hear one of the remixes from the 12″ via the Ghostly Discovery App. If you dial in these mood settings, the resulting playlist should include the Lusine remix of Coastal Brake (you may have to click next a few times). Enjoy.