Industry research

I was thinking of covers and I thought I'd have a look at some of my favourites/inspirations. They might not all be clear-cut illustration but all of them sound like what they look like (which is what the best album covers do). I think most of them rely on layout as much as concepts or imagery to make them work. 

The xx - I see you- The album is called I see you and its reflective. I think concepts like this are very good (a bit like the best of Factory records covers)

Beach Boys - This is a back cover - but the monochrome as well as the slightly kitsch look (with the type and the flower) is good.

Betjeman's Banana Blush- gradients, colour palette, photos and layout are all good. Looks like it could have been designed now. I think the way it relates to the music is how unusual it all seems (the elements almost don't quite all fit together.)

Ambition/Franco- These are both reduced down to the basics of the name of the artist, the name of the album and a photo of the artist. They work because they are simple.

Linton Kwesi Johnson/Robert Wyatt- The music is quite different, but they both dry point looking illustration on the front. Both are very political records and the images on the front are also political. They work because they have good illustrations. The Robert Wyatt does the visual equivalent of the kind of play on words he does (but also with the politics), the LKJ one shows the violence, race issues and talking about police that runs throughout the album.

The two designers the are my favourites are Lemi Gharikwo (Fela Kuti album covers) and Peter Saville (Factory records) are not included here I don't any one example stands out to me from them - its more their approach.