Machel Montano

‘Book of angels ’Digipak Analysis

Background and AnalysisBook of angels was released in 2007

Trinidad and Tobago - 27th February 2007 North USA - 25th March 2007.

13 page booklet including the lyrics of the song and autobiography, CD and 12 songs.

The album released marked 25 years of Machel Montano being in the music industry as well as

the first album to be released under his re-branded name ‘Machel Montano HD’

Album sold out in stores within the first few days of being on the shelves.

The album is mostly white to show the representation of angels. The clouds in the

background relate to the title and the wings show that he is an angel.

Front cover

The front cover show’s Machel wearing all white clothing and angel wings.

The front cover connotes his purity and high power/authority. This is backed by him re-

branding his name to ‘HD – high definition’ when launching this album.

The covers denotation is that he’s an angel.

The front cover does not stick to the typical conventions of a Soca digipak as the

females/males are usually partially naked whereas Machel is appropriately clothed which then

represents his purity.

Through the composition of the picture we see Machel with his arms wide open which shows that he is warm and welcoming. This also links

with the narrative of angels which are associated with heaven

Back cover

The back cover shows the 12 songs included on the CD.

The record label ‘Machel Montano HD’ is also included on

the cover.

There is Barcode on the bottom along with copyright phrase.

Spine

The spine of the digipak states the name of the artist and the name of the album. This is

so that it is easily recognisable amongst other CD’s

Picture Panel

A picture of Machel Montano is shown when the digipak is

first opened.

The disc

cover of the discs are likewise to that of the album cove r – both contain images of the clouds and Machel Montano representing the angel.

The disc also has the name of the artist as well as what the album is called so

that people are able to identify what album they are listening too.

A black and white image of Machel performing is located at the top of

the disc – showing his energy side and the reason that he is called HD.

The CD features the song ‘jumbie’ which won Soca Monarch 2007.

Interior pages

The interior pages of the digipak contain the lyrics of each song on the album.

The people who help produce each song are recognised before the lyrics

Quotes like “the angel of death and re-birth” and “angel of imagination and liberation” are used to denote his reasons for success

and how he reached that point in his life

Close shot images of him looking from the corner of his eyes and grasping his hands

connotes that he is serious about his career and that he is watching all movements. These images can also connote that him

representing an angel can also mean that he can see everything.

Overall analysis

Overall, the digipak does not really fit the genre which it is associated with as Soca is not usually associated with angels.

Nevertheless, due to the target audience of Soca being anyone of any age the digipak does fulfil its needs as near enough everyone is able to relate to and recognise angels and their symbolic meaning.

The composition of the pictures fits the meaning of the digipak as they appear to show Machel watching over people, this links in with the album being named ‘book of angels.’

The colours which have been used throughout the digipak are white and red. White is used to show heaven, angels and the clouds – representing Machel’s purity and high power. On the other hand, the red is used to show his passion for the career that he

has and the progress that he has made. By keeping the colour scheme of the digipak the same the whole way through it shows that the digipak is a symbolic replica of the name of the album rather than a theme that is going to represent the

artist.

Throughout the digipak there are no typical conventions of Soca digipaks. This is as most Soca digipaks contain images of partially naked individuals. By Machel defying the typical conventions of Soca digipaks it connotes him breaking away from what is

traditionally done of the Soca scene as well as him re-branding himself as ‘high definition’.

The denotation of Machel Montanos ‘book of angels’ album is that his songs are the book and he is the angel.

The connotations of the digipak are that Machel Montano is pure, highly powered, energetic and passionate. This is shown through the images and colours used throughout the digipak as well as the quotes used on the inside pages of the booklet.

The representation of Machel throughout the digipak is that he is very sinister and observed. This is visble through the composition of the images and the fact that the album is named ‘book of angels’.