Tuesday 24 June 2014

Marlowe album cover analysis

 
Marlowe - Album Cover analysis
 
 
 
Marlowe - 'Its turning me on' - EP
 


This is the first EP cover for the band Marlowe. The cover insinuates potential characteristics of the band, and the genre of their music. However, the name itself suggests what the band may be like. Marlowe may link to Christopher Marlowe, who was a 16th century dramatist. There are many myths surrounding Marlowe, and thus this gives the idea that the band maybe slightly eccentric with an edgy twist. The cover is red, which immediately suggests something passionate and fiery. This coincides with the EP's name, 'Its turning me on', and gives the impression that the music is something highly sensual. The image is a pencil drawing, which is slightly faded. This creates the idea that the band is quite authentic and organic. The image is of a young girl, and her position and attire have immediate  sexual connotations. The image suggests that this girl enjoys going out, as she is half way through applying lip stick. She is showing her leg and the image is of an absent nature, as the girl is looking down, thus the audience is more drawn in and engaged. This gives the idea that the genre is indie rock and the band is quite alternative. The text is in white, thus hugely contrasts with the white background, therefore the bands name is highly visible which helps to promote them. This is essential in an EP cover, as the band is trying to get their name our to their potential target audience. This is why the name of the EP is in a smaller font, as the name is less important than the bands.


Marlowe - 'darksparklecorner' - Debut album


 
This is the first album for the band, thus it needs to engage the audience in order to ensure high level of sales. The image is hugely striking, and draws the audience in, as it is a bizarre and slightly creepy. The contrast between white and red has been used again, this time with the text being red and the image mainly white. This helps to build brand image and the continuity helps the audience to recognise a particular artist. This time the image is a photo, and the use of a frightened child is shocking and thus stimulates the audience's curiosity. It emphasises the idea of eccentricity and the use of a faded image adds to the bands authentic feel. The use of contrast between light and dark is also effective, as it gives the idea that the band plays some darker music whilst also having some more lighter and softer material. The text is small and in the corner thus gives the impression that the band are relying on the image to engage the audiences interest, and not their name or title of the album. The title itself is ambiguous and adds to the mystery and slightly extraordinary image the band is presenting.
 
Marlowe - 'a day in july' - Second Album
 


This is the bands second album, and it contrasts heavily with the image of the previous album. Brand awareness has been continued as the red and white colour scheme has been again used. This means that the band can recognise the band more easily, as they are familiar with the colour and feel of the band. The image is lighter and softer than the previous album covers and this links with the title, 'a day in july', as this has connotations with happiness and sunshine. The mountains symbolise the idea of freedom, and that the band are moving forward to a higher level. The image looks like it has been taken a while ago, and its faded look emphasises the authentic feel of the band. This contrasts heavily with the previous album, as it is much softer and calmer than the startled image of the child. This gives the idea that the band have grown and developed, and that their music has steered away from the darker sides of indie rock, to something more subtle and understated.

Marlowe - 'deep breathe fake air' - Third Album


This is the third album for the band, and contrasts heavily with all the other covers. The only similarity is the colour scheme, that continues to focus on white and red. However, the image is no longer soft and authentic, but is now a rigid form in a bright blue. The harsh outline of the head, which to an extent seems highly clinical, contrasts with the faded images previously used, and gives the idea that the bands music has moved in a completely new direction. This cover insinuates that the band have moved to more superficial types of indie rock, and strayed away from their original roots. This is shown in the fact that the text is much larger, and the bands name takes the audiences focus as it is large and in the middle of the cover. The name however links to the previous ambiguity of the other albums, as it is confusing and thus keeps the band in the genre of indie and eccentric music.
 
 
 


No comments:

Post a Comment