'Marlow', 'Testcard' and 'Roja' Album Covers

'Marlow', 'Testcard; and 'Roja'

In class we were asked to look at different album covers and in groups discuss what we thought about them and come up with questions to ask a member of the band about the different designs that they have chosen to use and the progression of the band.

Marlow

'Marlow' was the first group that was put together and they came out with 3 albums and an EP.

'it's turning me on e.p.' 

• This was the bands debut E.P.
• The title of it had quite sexual connotations associated with it, the colour scheme also help to enhance this idea as red is usually associated with love and romance.
• The white writing that is used stands out on the red background, due to the fact that this was their debut they needed to make sure that their name stood out and so therefore is memorable.
• Questions we would ask:
• Why did you put this girl on the over instead of the artist considering that it is their first album?
• Why use the colour red?

'Darksparklecorner'

• This was the band's debut album.
• The name of the band has been written very small in the corner of the cover, the font remains the same as the first.
• The young boy in the image looks scared and yet the word 'sparkle' has good connotations, doesn't sound like something to be scared of.
• There is something creating a light which is lighting up the young boys face, whatever is creating that light is presumably what is scaring the young boy.
• The wallpaper and duvet covers suggest that the image is from the late 1990's or early 2000's.
• Questions
• Why are there no spaces used in the album name?
• Who is the child that was used?
• What or who is he scared of?

'a day in july'

• They have used the white font on the red background again as they did in their e.p.
• They also have used the same font, which suggests that it is the font that they have decided to go with the band and they aren't likely to change it.
• The image is a much happier one that in the album before, and again they have used an actual photo that has been taken instead of a drawn image.
• Questions:
• Who are the children?
• Where was this taken?
• What is the font that you use and why did you decide to use that one?
• Do the changes in image reflect that change in the type of music on the album?

'deep breath fake air'

• They have used white on red once again.
• The artists name is a lot larger than in all of the previous album covers.
• Seems like the image is quite an organic image, it is showing exactly where the music is coming from.
• The image isn't too overly complicated.
• Instead of using a photo again this time they have decided to use a drawing instead.
• Questions:
• What is the significance of the red on the white background?
• Who drew the image?
• Is it meant to be an outline of one of the members of the band?

Testcard:

After the band Marlow broke up a new band was created with new members called 'Testcard'

'Lines'

• This was their debut album for the newly formed band.
• The font is a lot different than the ones used in the previous album covers.
• There is now a use of capital letters in the title.
• Compared to the albums that they had previously it is very dull, notably the colours that are used.
• Questions:
• Is there a reason behind the much more simple image?
• What type of music are they now creating?
• Why is the album called lines and then there is a circle at the bottom of the image?

Roja

Again the band split up and a new band was created.

'Promises I Should Have Kept'

• This was the debut album released by this band.
• The album holds a very hispanic name.
• The font is completely different then the two previous ones, quite a medieval look to it, not so block like.
• The name of the band is a lot more prominent on the page.
• The spanish looking lady gives the sense that it will be some sort of bull fighting sounding music that will be on the album, very different then what perhaps have been on the previous albums that have been produced.
• Questions:
• What type of music is on the album?
• Who is the lady meant to be?
• Why have such a drastic change this time?