I find comfort in what my mind can't comprehend

Comfort zones, we all have them when we want to feel like there is nothing wrong (there is always something wrong) but it's good to feel like there is nothing. I resort to music that I used to listen to when I was growing up. I still know all the words and it just feels good to listen to. I love it but I don't listen to it like it used to because of this comfort zone.

I try to break out of it as often as I can. Using the logic I once heard from the wise man known as Keith Richards; I want to find out the guys that inspired the people I liked. One of the main references for this was Elvis Presley. Elvis was inspired by the Blues which is why I think The Stones became a Blues band and not a "Rock and Roll band" (in the Elvis sense). So I listened to David Bowie (especially his Berlin stuff) and was told it was inspired by Krautrock. Now I am a big Can fan. I listened to Talking Heads and they were inspired by Steve Reich so I got really into Music for 18 Musicians and Double Sextet. I listened to Billy Bragg and was inspired by Woody Guthrie so made it my business to listen to him. Listened to Joy Division and they liked William Burroughs so explored his work. Listened to The Clash and they were big big Dub fans and now I am a big big Dub fan. I love to explore.

It pushes my frame of reference and joins more dots. You can do this with film and games and books and beer. It doesn't make sense to me to stay in a whole of comfort. The clubbing people who go out every week to the same club, to listen to the same music with the same people; it will lose it's thrill really easily. Without an element of change you will end up hating what you like. With change you may end up hating what you used to like and like what you used to hate.

This is an Outrage.

 Would you just look at these? It's amazing what these fake artists will do? Releasing cover album after cover album. Just because you change the style up doesn't mean they are creative people. What really winds me up is the fact that all of these ludicrous LP are being sold, that's right guys these records are being sold by Oxfam online. I am aware that makes them second hand and that someone else may have already covered this. I don't know what else to say. Hammond Organ versions of The Fall? who wants to hear that really. I don't know. I wish these posers would release some original material... RANT OVER!

Digital Punk

 Digital DIY. Punks would of hand drawn these and hand coloured them using felt tip pens and then photocopied the life out of them. In modern times. Punks if they want this aesthetic can just use a computer tablet and a pen. No Photocopier. No Cost. You loose a little of the style but is an easy way of getting hand drawn text and images onto the computer. 

I did these flyers to promote records in general as i do consider them to be a marvelous invention. It has since become a status symbol for hipsters who want to look fashionable. Punks would of made flyers like this themselves to promote the new single or EP as it was the cheapest most cost effective way of doing so.

A Club Like No Other

An explosion of fun would be had at this club. That's why I wrote and recorded a song about it, then designed the sleeve for it as if it was a single. I've chose the pop art feel because the lyrics of the song references a few points in pop culture. Inspired by the Hacienda club in Manchester, its all about having a good time and that is what I have tried to achieve visually.

No Jazz Hands, Please

 What kind of design student would I be if I said I didn't like Jazz. It is almost essential for every student of the design variety to have a copy of Unknown Pleasures by Joy Division, A Smiths album and a copy of Davis, Coltrane or Mingus. Brubeck, Coleman or Parker depending on your taste. Personally I Brubeck and Davis, but that's just me.

Jazz and design come together perfectly at the Blue Note label where designer, Reid Miles had to produce quality sleeves on a small budget for some of the biggest names in the genre. The quality of the design complements the jazz as well. If you don't believe me look it up you will be just as pleased as I was. It's perfect. Below are my tributes to Reid Miles' work. The added ring wear was added to give it the LP feel.

 

 

Put the Needle on the Vintage Record

My love of music seems to seep into every post I do and this one is no exception. I have taken it upon myself to start a very expensive hobby; Vintage Record Player collecting. Below you can see my first rescued baby; a Fidelity HF45. She is a early 1970's machine, designed to look like and early 60's Dansette player. Me and my father repaired it as it had a noisey volume knob. It now works fine and looks absolutely beautiful.