Research into down-tempo artists album covers

Similar artist: ‘Bonobo’

‘Dial 'M' for Monkey’, released 9 Jun 2003 and ‘Animal Magic’ released 23 Jun 2009 both under ‘Ninja Tune’ Records . I like how both album cover utilises a montage of images, all lifeless to create a sort of mosaic/ collage with some of the images fitting together to create an atmospheric creative album cover much like the spirit of the music.

Black Sands released 23 Mar 2010 by ‘Ninja Tune’ Records . This album cover utilises a overwhelmingly atmospheric landscape photograph, immersed within nature and open to the sky, with nothing man made but a radio tower in the centre. The image fits well with the feel of the music and would intrigue audiences by filling them with awe. This simplistic design works effectively with the clean simple font, in white, which stands out to clearly promote he producer and the album. A similar design may look effective for a panel of my digi-pack, especially as similar imagery is used within my music video.

Similar Down-tempo artist: ‘Cinematic Orchestra’

Man With a Movie Camera Released 3rd June 2003 under ‘Ninja Tune’ records. I think the white background with the black silhouette and the Text in a flowing font above means that the audience focus on the artist, and then when looking closer see the album name shadowed within the silhouette. This shows the artist isn’t particularly interested in promoting themselves to the mainstream, rather the devote niche audience who listen and consume down-tempo music

‘Ma Fleur’ released 9th May 2007 under ‘Domino Recording Co.’ Simple, clean, atmospheric and effective, I have noticed a common convention of a very relaxed photography of nature, throughout down-tempo artists, with a clean font saying no more than what needs to be said, in order to give credit to the artist, however not packaging their identity's as a product to be sold; it seems the music is more of an important aspect than the fame or fortune.

Similar Down-tempo artist: Morcheeba

‘Big Calm’ released 21st Dec 2004 under EastWest UK. This cover uses an relaxed colour matching room, filled with items that the audience would identify with, for example the record player, the Buddha, and a girl listening to the music looking very relaxed. Listeners would identify with this and the way it captivates the spirit of the music in the image. The producer and album name is placed on top in a box, blocked in white with black text, making it very clear to read, and contrast with the colour scheme of the image.

‘Charango’ released 1st July 2002 under EastWestUK, has a simplistic design, effectively and clearly promoting the producer and album at the top and then filling the rest with abstract art employing various colours and the album name ‘Charango’ in an abstract typography making it stand out, while staying very neutral so as to appeal to its niche fan base.

Similar Down-tempo artist: Thievery Corporation

‘The Cosmic Game’ released 22cnd Feb 2005, under ESL Music, Inc. The cover uses no text at all on the front, and uses an image of the two producers that has been greatly manipulated and the designer has used an abstract background of some circle within circles graphic, most probably developed on a programme such as Adobe Photoshop, or After Effects. I think it is effective and would be plausible to use a similar design, if able to find effects to manipulate images like this.

‘The Richest Man In Babylon’ released 30th Sep 2002 under ‘Universal Music Division Barclay’. This cover uses a simple green background with a white circle under a red circle, which stands out and leads viewer to look at the simple font titling the producer and album. It continues to be a common convention within the genre to avoid over promotion of the artist, the audience is a specific niche audience who do not identify with over marketing of producers and artists.

Sounds From the Thievery Hi-Fi is a compilation album and utilises a simple manipulated image of a record player, of which music lovers and the audience identify with. The text is layered above and clearly promotes artist without over doing it. The recurring image of vinyl players makes me think maybe I should use a vinyl digipack? Or utilize them as a theme of the music in some way.

Top ‘Down-tempo’ album’s according to:

http://www.last.fm