An End Has An Artwork

I don't yet have much of an opinion on the musical merits of the new Editors album An End Has A Start, though I grew to love its predecessor. However, sitting on a stalled tube train yesterday morning, staring at a promotional poster for the album directly opposite me on the platform, I was struck by the utter brilliance of its cover art.

So here we are: a completely gratituous post giving you the opportunity to stare at it for a few seconds too. I draw your attention to the brooding, ominous colouring, the minimal stateliness of the typeface and the spectral, otherworldly image of the gasometer, the delicacy of its filigree structure contrasting with its vast industrial blankness.

There has been much recent discussion in the mainstream UK press about the future of music retail. I think that John Darnielle got it right three years ago, when he implied that the majority of record companies and/or artists don't pay enough attention to their design and packaging to create truly covetable objects.

The artwork for An End Has A Start strikes me as being a rather notable exception to this rule amongst this summer's mainstream releases. It brings to mind Peter Saville's work for Factory Records (appropriately, given the Editors / Joy Division comparisons) or the 23 Envelope and v23 designs for 4AD. I'd like to find out who did it.

Will this artwork entice me to buy the CD? The jury's out on that until I've lived with the music for a few more weeks. I'm certainly thinking that I'd like to have one of those large tube station posters on the wall in my study for a month or two. I can't remember when I last enjoyed an album's artwork so much without really knowing the album.

Posted by Hg on Wednesday 18 July 2007 at 15:12.
Received 3 comments so far.

Remind me of a cover of an Ian McEwan novel.

Comment by Paul on Thursday 19 July 2007 at 15:58.

INteresting post you've written here. On the subject of the Editors album cover....I like to think I did it first here http://www.ironmanrecords.co.uk/index.asp?Page=contact but I may be wrong, who knows? Being sick of Birmingham music related flyers and posters showing the skyline or the stupid Birmingham wheel that was brought in by the council to keep tourists happy etc. I went out in early 2004 and decided to take pictures of what I see everyday and use them for my website. You can see the m6 flyover, pylons, the gas tanks, rolling stock, railway lines etc. All what I see as the real face of Birmingham. I think as the Editors are a band from Birmingham (Sadly I'm no great fan of their music but...)I was quite pleased that they at least chose an album cover that tells you a bit about where they're from even though it has been doctored a bit. Other notable examples of the gas towers being used are on promo materials for Digital central nicked/borrowed by a bloke called Dave Reams.....

Comment by mark on Sunday 22 July 2007 at 20:04.

Photographed by Idris Khan.

Comment by Tony on Wednesday 25 July 2007 at 13:35.

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