Music on Cinema Design

’Script of the Bridge'- An Album Review.

admin — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:33:41 +0000

There really were some great bands back in the eighties and many of these still have a major influence on the musicians of today. However, it is all too easy to remember certain acts from this period whilst forgetting about other ones altogether; especially if they no longer perform…

The Chameleons released their debut album, ‘Script of the Bridge’ in 1983 and it was an overnight success. Their song writing skills were strong and their sound was perfectly in keeping with the times.

‘Script'is one of those rare albums where each new track is just as good as the last. Sure, certain songs are catchier than others, but there are certainly no weak spots to be found. And in a recording that lasts for just under an hour, this is quite an achievement in itself. This mastery is almost like musical fuel management!

Of course, listening to ‘Script of the Bridge'now is much different to listening to it then… And today’s ears are bound to pick up on many blatant influences on this album. There are Joy Division-esque drums, Jam styled vocals, Police guitars and oodles of similarities to The Cure (a la ‘Seventeen Seconds’). But this is not because The Chameleons were lacking in the ideas department, rather it was an inevitability. After all, they would no doubt have been surrounded by these other bands at the time.

There is also a charming humanity to the lyrics on this album. Mark Burgess may ponder over such matters as being, ‘Less than Human'in God’s eyes, but he also sings about the state of our society which ultimately results in the elderly living in fear of the young.

But the real gem on, ‘Script'is right at the end. ‘View from a Hill'is an achingly beautiful song which will stay with the listener long after the album has finished.

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The Exorcist-Iconic Movie Poster

admin — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 06:33:04 +0000

One of the things that I love about classic movie posters is that they really look great as all art. When you see these posters it is more than likely that you will feel some degree of emotion related to the poster and the movie itself. One of the most famous movies of all time, The Exorcist, has what can only be described as an iconic movie poster. This poster is possibly the most iconic of all time.

The poster for The Exorcist from back in 1973, can easily be said to have had a great impact on whether or not people went to see the movie. In fact many people will even remember the movie theatre and its furniture London that they sat in while watching the movie.

The poster is as gruesome as the movies itself and the movie has been viewed by many as possibly the scariest horror movie of all time. The poster does bring to life the general haunting and disturbing feel of the movie. It is predominantly purple and black but it also shows the silhouette of Father Merrin’s as he stands against the home of the Regan’s as a streetlamp shining a light on him. The contrasting tone heightens the effect this poster has on the senses. It is as dramatic as the movie is when you watch it. It lulls viewers into feeling a sense of calm just before things begin to unravel. Looking on this poster has you wondering hat evil thing is about to happen next.

This movie from 1973 has spawned a number of sequels and prequels each with its on poster, but none can nor will be as iconic and as subtle as the original in the way it portrays hat to expect from the movie. The Exorcist movie poster is certainly one of the best of them all.

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Calm in the Storm

admin — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 19:05:08 +0000

During the 70’s the mad rush of artists pumping out loud and heavy rock was immense, so when an American brother and sister act came on the scene they captured the public’s attention and hearts. Karen and Richard Carpenter became a huge hit and were of course known as the Carpenters.

Their album covers were simple and yet held an air of charm and grace; the first depicted them on a sailing boat surrounded by clam waters and clear skies. One of their most famous tracks and one many people will know the words to is (They long to be) Close to you which was released in 1970 and was by far the best known version of this song.

Another fantastic album cover by the Carpenters was their 1973 released album titled Now & Then; this one shows the duo in typical red sports car of the era with a seemingly normal suburban street in the background.

In 1977 a totally new style of cover was released which was unlike all of those that had gone before. Until now all but one included the duo and were based on the photograph of them, however Passage changed the rules. This one has a very modern art kind of feel to it with bold striking colors and black blocks to contrast.

This was not the last of the changes to their covers however; their next album Christmas Portrait was of a different theme again. Even though they did appear on the cover it was more of a poster art cover than photographic, and again suited the change in era.

The move towards more modern styles and images continued with the next cover for Made in America, however this is the last cover that had a progressive design as Karen Carpenter died in 1983 after a cardiac arrest due to complication with her long standing battle with anorexia. The album released that year simply had a picture of Karen on it as tribute to her life and work as an artist.

iTunes art – what’s the point?

admin — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 13:33:04 +0000

I actually quite like iTunes, which is quite an admission for someone who takes such pride in their vinyl collection. Someone bought me an iPod for my birthday a long time ago, and it stayed in its packaging at the back of a draw until I discovered the technology existed to magically (or probably not) transform my beloved vinyl into iTunes tracks. Now, I can carry around my entire vinyl collection in my pocket or play them in my car when driving to diesel Plymouth or the nearby cinema I regularly visit.

The other great thing about iTunes is that it allows you to buy a few tracks without investing in the entire album. Perfect for purchasing some of those “guilty secrets” that we all have when it comes to music! Every now and then there will be a really great pop track that I find myself humming as I go about my day – thanks to iTunes I can buy it for a few pence and it can then stay hidden away in my pocket, where none of my serious muso friends will ever see it.

The only thing I don’t like about iTunes is the album artwork they offer. Of course, because of the tiny screen most iPods or other Aple gadgets have, the picture is tiny, barely visible and most of the wonderful details are lost. That’s why I didn’t bother going hunting for all the relevant artwork for the vinyl tracks I loaded onto my iPod. What’s the point in having artwork on your iPod when you need a magnifying glass just to identify which album it is? And when most of the fabulous detail that made it a classic is shrunk beyond recognition? No, when it comes to appreciating the care and love that went into making album artwork, ain’t nothing like the real thing!

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The Death of the Classic Album Cover?

admin — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 12:33:10 +0000

Everyone has a favourite album cover. Quite often, it’s the image on the cover of their favourite album – a snapshot that captures the artist at the moment they unveiled their masterpiece. Other covers stand up on artistic merit – Warhol’s pop art banana design is arguably better remembered than the album it fronted, by Velvet Underground & Nico. Other bands or artists make a statement with striking album covers – Bowie and Radiohead come to mind, although the Beatles and Metallica’s blank white and black covers have had a similar effect.

Perhaps in hindsight, the elevated status of classic album artwork has become a hindrance in the digital era. With the vast majority of music now purchased online, cover art has been reduced to a thumbnail on computer screens. The digital revolution has unquestionably been a positive for the music industry, but the timeless covers associated with the physical format have seen a decline.

It is a similar story with film posters, where TV advertising and online information have rendered film posters redundant. As a result, their status as art works has become more clearly defined, and many cinemas use classic or redesigned posters to advertise repeat showings of films. Perhaps the music world needs to follow books and cinema and allow the repackaging of classic albums, and more innovation in digital media, to reintroduce the idea that artwork is indeed just that – a work of art designed to represent the band of artist.

Gimmicks in album artwork have been few and far between – there’s PiL’s metal boxes, the aforementioned blank covers and bands such as Pulp and Rammstein offering interchangeable sleeves. Surely in the digital age, there is room for redesigned covers and even animated or information-laden cover designs. Innovations need to be made if a timeless record cover to match the likes of London Calling and Abbey Road is to be made again. Many think the death of physical formats makes it impossible – in fact, it opens up more opportunities.

’Dark Side of the Moon'by Pink Floyd A Classic Album Cover

admin — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 04:33:04 +0000

On March 24^th 1973 when Pink Floyd release their album ‘Dark Side of The Moon'chances are neither they nor their record label would have envisioned what would happen next. The album became among the all time biggest selling albums with consistent appearances on numerous top ten albums bestsellers lists from then ‘til now. Since its release one of the more noted aspects of the album has been its album cover design which has become iconic in its own right.

It is likely that no one will remember the label on the vinyl record itself which may irate the label supplier, but everyone does remember the cover and of course the music. The cover has also been used sparingly but yet recognisably on anniversary additions and re-releases.

One the front cover of the album is a refractive prism which is pitted against a background that is fully black. A beam of light is seen being shone through the prism and on the other side a colour spectrum is seen emerging. It is amazing that nowhere on the cover does the album’s title nor the band’s name appear.

Storm Thorgerson of ‘Hipgnosis’, a UK graphic design crew is responsible for the albums'cover design. Thorgerson is also responsible for all of Pink Floyd’s album covers starting with the album ‘A Saucerful of secrets’.

The light refracting prism design concept came about due as a tribute to the bands light shows that were a part of their on stage performances. The band as a group decided on the cover design after being presented with about seven options.

Reviews of Classic Hollywood Poster

admin — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 21:33:13 +0000

Hollywood has always mesmerized us with its creativity and unique ideas, and its inimitable and exceptional concepts. No matter what they are dealing with, whether it is the script or the poster of the films, Hollywood posters have always been elite and fashionable. Posters should be such which can attract the attention of every individual who comes across them, and it should also create inquisitiveness among everyone so that the audience is fascinated and gets interested in the film. Classic Hollywood posters create the awe factor in exactly the right manner as that is the main purpose or use of filmy posters.

Hollywood is considered to be the best industry when it comes to film making and thus is it very obvious that even the poster of the films are one of the best in the whole world, and even till now the posters of classic Hollywood films are in demand. Various people have the hobby of collecting such posters. They are sold at different price ranges depending on the popularity of the movie and the artistic imagination involved in creating it.

Various web sites are there that sells classic Hollywood posters. Offers and discounts are often given in these web sites which make a great and profitable deal to those who are interested to buy and collect classic Hollywood posters. Prices start from around 20 dollars and can go up to 100 dollars, depending on the movie, acceptance by the audience and whether it makes use of 3D signs. For instance the poster of the movie named Cleopatra will definitely range between 60 to 80 dollars where as some other classic movie might have posters at a lower price. It totally depends on the popularity of the movie. With time such posters are becoming more popular among the masses. They are widely appreciated all over the world.

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Movie Poster Illustration: An Art Form

admin — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 03:03:45 +0000

In this techno-savvy, digital age, movie posters might be considered relics of movie marketing, being rapidly eclipsed by interactive websites, streaming trailers and video clips and other rich multimedia. However, movie posters will always be an essential part of the movies, and movie poster illustration, in particular, should be viewed as art.

Photography and technology have changed the look of movie posters, much I the same way executive office furniture has revolutionized the look of the offices, but thankfully, illustrated posters are still alive and well. Perhaps the illustrations hark back to the magic and glamour of old Hollywood, when illustrated movie posters were the norm.

Illustrated posters can also be a compelling hook to draw in movie goers, as an illustrated image that captures the essence of the film can be striking and have resonance, creating curiosity and buzz because of how memorable the image is. Oftentimes the poster is all a moviegoer sees before they go to watch the movie.

Posters for animated movies, of course, must be illustrated, but for other movies, instead of photographs or film stills, an illustration could be much more effective in capturing attention. While the type of movie the poster is publicizing will dictate the type of poster, illustration should always be an option to consider due to its visual impact and originality.

Movie poster illustration truly is art, and illustrated posters are often displayed and treated as such – with some rare posters, such as the one for 1927’s Metropolis, fetching fine art prices.

The Posters of Hollywood

admin — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 21:33:06 +0000

In my college, I was passing by a classroom when something caught my eye. It was a small room with about 15 desktop computers that were used by the media department. So I walked in, and I was astounded. Spread upon all the walls were huge posters from so many great films that I had heard of: Pulp Fiction, Fight Club, Star Wars, all were dramatic, striking and vibrant.

When I was staring at them it made me consider all the Hollywood posters we see today. Whether they are in front of the cinema, on literature stands or in magazines. Relatively few people appreciate all the time and effort countless artists put in to them. Each one of them are individual, each one of them are spectacular. But most people just ignore these.

The posters of Hollywood are used in order to entice us into viewing a film. They are meant to convey an hour and a half of screen time in one image. The Pulp Fiction poster implied a sassy, smart, gangster film. And it certainly delivered. The Fight Club poster was blunt and vivid, and the Star Wars was an artistic compilation of all the major characters.

Clearly movie posters are important in epitomizing a film. We can rely on them to provide a simplistic but accurate overview of the film. Why then do the overwhelming majority of us simply ignore them? Perhaps in this technological era, the Hollywood posters will always be dwarfed and shadowed by the trailers. Who knows?

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Forgotten Art

admin — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 18:33:05 +0000

We all love music, in one form or another. It ambiguously brings people together and makes us individual. Whether we buy a CD from our local store or download tracks of the internet music influences our lives and provides a source of comfort or entertainment.

If you’re anything like me, you understand the frustration of having a track on iTunes with no album artwork. No picture to accompany the song. No visual representation of the track. Nothing. When I flick from cover to cover in my collection of songs I begin to understand why the music industry spends an immense amount of time and money on album packaging. In a lot of cases it is the cover that persuades you and me to listen and then buy the album. That one piece of art spoke to us individually and represented what we feel is music.

Unfortunately it seems that in the past few years most of the music industry has not put as much imagination into these covers as they once did. Walk into any music store and you’ll be bombarded with dozens of albums with a close ups of the artist striking a cool, dramatic pose. Very pretty to look at, but after a few moments it grows into nothing more than a dull snapshot.

That isn’t to say, however, that artists do not try to be inventive. The Red Hot Chili Peppers'”Blood Sugar Sex Magik”, Take That’s “Progress” and Kanye West’s “Late Registration” are just some of vivid images that come to mind.