"Marlowe", "Roja" and "Testcard" - Album artwork

In class we were given the task in groups to look at different types of album covers and discuss and think about what we thought of them, then to come up with questions about the different designs about the chosen designs and progression of the band.


MARLOWE - "Its turning me on" - debut EP:

This was the first group that came out with 3 albums and an EP that came together.

• The colour scheme of the album is mainly dominated as blood red and was the bands debut E.P.
• With the focus on the woman in the album there is a sexual element introduced with the way she is applying lipstick with the colour red normally symbolizing love and romance.
• The writing in the colour white allows the words to stand out with the huge contrast allowing the audience to easily read the name of the artist and make sure it stands out.
• Questions to ask:
• Why use the colour red for the design?
• Why choose an main image of a woman for the base of the album design, what is the aim and purpose of this?

 

MARLOWE - "darksparklecorner"

• Due to the high exposure on the little boys face, his facial image is very clear in the design, showing a frightened scared like expression, allowing the image to stand out hugely towards the audience.
• The name of band has been written in small font on the corner of the cover and is the bands debut album.
• Due to the type of wallpaper and bed covers in the design it suggests its from early 2000's giving the design originality.
• Questions to ask:
• Why is the boy frightened in the image and of what?
• Who is the child?
• Why does the design contrast so much with the name of the album cover:

MARLOWE - "a day in July"

• This album cover contrasts hugely with the previous album design, giving a more warm and welcome feel.
• However linking to the previous album the writing is white on a red background contrasting nicely for the audience to read.
• There are children in the photo implying a more happy feel to the design with also the background looking to be somewhere in India/Nepal allowing the album to have more of a worldwide impact.
• Questions to ask:
• Who are the children in the album?
• Why did you decide to use that font again?
• Does this design reflect the type of music in this album?

ROJA - "promises I should have kept"

• Debut album released by the band.
• It is Spanish/Mexican based themed.
• The word "roja" stands for red in Spanish which links back to previous album designs.
• The name holds a Hispanic element.
• Questions to ask:
• Who is the lady meant to be?
• Why such the drastic change to this album design?
• What type of music is on this album?

TESTCARD - "lines"

• The colour design is very simplistic with a grey colour based
• This was a newly debut album for a new band
• With the previous albums, it is a complete contrast to other design covers being more organic than previous
• The writing is all capital letters giving off a very dull boring feel
• Questions to ask:
• What is the reason to the much more simple image?
• Is there a different music genre to this album?