What about the covers? - no.19

for 2009 - no.19 - Florence And The Machine - Lungs

front cover

back cover

insert (photo courtesy of Richard Lartey)

while the photograph on the cover looks good, fitting with the image Florence promoted with this album, the bland fonts and boring black frame utterly destroy it. "Modern Victoriana" galore throughout, with its modern tinge approprately done by the insert photos and fragments of lyrics scattered among them. I love the fact that she is wearing the lungs as a corset, under the flimsy string blouse. Ans she is posing in front of a curtain (whose pieces now are included in a limited edition box set of the album. Talk about leaving nothing to chance!).

The art direction was done by Florence and Tabitha Denholm, one half of the Queens of Noise DJ team. She was the director of Florence's video clip for Rabbit Heart as well (check previous post). The other half of Queens, is the groups manager. Talk about an extended family! Layout was done by Hugh Frost and the lungs illustration on the back cover was done by Maccabees' front man Orlando Weeks. Photography is by Tom Beard (studio shots) and Wade Fletcher (live shots)

for 00's - no.19 - Goldfrapp - Supernature

Appropriately dark and seductive, the cover here reminds me of Guy Bourdin's photos from the 70s. Brilliant all around. Funny thing is this cover as the above, features a curtain again! The typography is reminiscent of disco era album sleeves and Alison is always a pleasure to see on the cover of course. Mat Maitland has done a lot of work for Warner Bros Records and all the Beck covers (almost). And that peackock tail...

Art direction: Alison Goldfrapp, Mat Maitland & Gerard Saint

Set design: Rachel Thomas
Photography: Ross Kirton

Thanks to lkrory21 for the help!

Top 20 Countdown - no.19

for 2009

no.19 - Florence and The Machine - Lungs

Florence and her group manαge to creat a record that one can listen to from beginning to end without skipping a track, keeping the listener tuned in throughout. She combines indy credentials with commercial hype in a precarious balance that may either serve her right in the future or cause her to lose her course - which would be a pity cause it looks like a fine course set out to me!

for the 00's

no.19 - Goldfrapp - Supernature

Inspired by disco and new wave, Goldfrapp sound better than ever in their third ablum. Alison's voice is at her best and the atmosphere it creates along with the superb dance music can transport the listener to sticky and sweet, dark spaces. Brilliant.

Goldfrapp-Number 1
από ZICARLOS